FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Gordon Douglas Yntema ~ 28 August 2023

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

Gordon Douglas Yntema
Information from here.

           

Gordon Douglas Yntema (June 26, 1945 - January 18, 1968) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in the Vietnam War.

Yntema joined the Army from Detroit, Michigan in 1964, and by January 16, 1968 was serving as a Sergeant in Company D of the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne). On that day, near Thong Binh in the Republic of Vietnam, Yntema and the two platoons of irregulars he was with were involved in a heavy firefight with the Viet Cong. After the group's Vietnamese commander was wounded, Yntema led the force for the remainder of the two-day battle as ammunition dwindled and losses mounted. With his position about to be overrun, he refused to abandon his wounded comrades and instead fought to the death.

Yntema, aged 22 at his death, was buried in Pilgrim Home Cemetery, Holland, Michigan. He and his wife Peggy had three daughters, Elizabeth, Jane and Julie.

The enlisted club at Fort Bragg, NC is named in his honor.

Sergeant Yntema's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life and above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Yntema, U.S. Army, distinguished himself while assigned to Detachment A-431, Company D. As part of a larger force of civilian irregulars from Camp Cai Cai, he accompanied 2 platoons to a blocking position east of the village of Thong Binh, where they became heavily engaged in a small-arms fire fight with the Viet Cong. Assuming control of the force when the Vietnamese commander was seriously wounded, he advanced his troops to within 50 meters of the enemy bunkers. After a fierce 30 minute fire fight, the enemy forced Sgt. Yntema to withdraw his men to a trench in order to afford them protection and still perform their assigned blocking mission. Under cover of machinegun fire, approximately 1 company of Viet Cong maneuvered into a position which pinned down the friendly platoons from 3 sides. A dwindling ammunition supply, coupled with a Viet Cong mortar barrage which inflicted heavy losses on the exposed friendly troops, caused many of the irregulars to withdraw. Seriously wounded and ordered to withdraw himself, Sgt. Yntema refused to leave his fallen comrades. Under withering small arms and machinegun fire, he carried the wounded Vietnamese commander and a mortally wounded American Special Forces advisor to a small gully 50 meters away in order to shield them from the enemy fire. Sgt. Yntema then continued to repulse the attacking Viet Cong attempting to overrun his position until, out of ammunition and surrounded, he was offered the opportunity to surrender. Refusing, Sgt. Yntema stood his ground, using his rifle as a club to fight the approximately 15 Viet Cong attempting his capture. His resistance was so fierce that the Viet Cong were forced to shoot in order to overcome him. Sgt. Yntema's personal bravery in the face of insurmountable odds and supreme self-sacrifice were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect the utmost credit upon himself, the 1st Special Forces, and the U.S. Army.

Please remember, the Canteen is family friendly and we exist to support and honor our troops and their families, as well as our Allies Troops and theirs.  Thank you to every Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine and Coast Guardsman out there for doing what you do to keep us safe.  We are ever in your debt.  And thank you, too, to the families and friends who support them.  God bless our troops.

[radu]

Howdy, luvie.

A hero, he was. And so young.

I hope you’re still enjoying cooler weather. Still hot here but not as bad as Friday. It was 100 degrees when I came home from the museum. UGH!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Sorry you couldn’t mow, but glad you were otherwise able to chill.

“Tree Trash”...great description of the junk on the deck. I swept it all off yesterday, but it returned today. I will sweep again this evening.

[radu]

I really wasn’t up to mowing today so I was kinda glad it was too hot. LOL But I reeeeeeeeally need to and hope that front moves down here so it’ll be comfy enough to do it this week. I’m afraid that durn tropical storm that will soon be a hurricane doesn’t keep the front stalled to the north.

Yep, tree trash is an appropriate description. Makes a mess but at least it doesn’t do any damage.

[luvie]

Hey there, radu!

It got up to 94 today, but after what we’ve been having, that felt pretty good! I hope things cool off soon there, too. Tomorrow it’s only supposed to get up to 84. I’ll believe THAT when I feel it. LOL!

[luvie]

Also...there is some rain just to the west of us, and the wind has kicked up. I’d be shocked if it rained, but my fingers are crossed anyway. LOL!

[radu]

It’s a start. 94 is better than what you’ve been dealing with the last several weeks. Now if we can just get y’all down into the 80s. Maybe they’ll be right about tomorrow *fingers crossed*

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, luvie...he gave his all, fully knowing how it would end. God Bless him!

Hope you got a nice nap today.

[Kathy in Alaska]

[radu]

Yeah, I’ve been watching that rain as it creeps south. I keep hoping it’ll scoot a little more to the east, across Hwy 385, so you’ll get a dose.

They got quite a bit of rain north of I-40 in TN today but nothing here. They keep saying we’ll get something here overnight but I don’t see it.

I drove through bodacious rain last evening when I left for a party but got nothing here from that. It just wouldn’t cross the highway and come here, and I’m not that far from the highway. It looked like one raindrop had landed in the rain gauge when I got home. *sigh*

[MoochPooch]

Evening, Kathy! Another inspiring bio!

[luvie]

I did get a good nap! After getting up early, it was very welcome. Glad it only happens once a week, instead of every day like when I worked. LOL

[luvie]

I just took the kitties some food and the sidewalk was damp, so I guess it sprinkled a bit. Maybe it still is. Can’t tell because the stupid pine tree that leaves dead needles all over the patio also acts as an umbrella to the same patio unless it rains really hard and for a long time.

I’m sure not complaining about the 75 degrees that it is right now, though. It feels heavenly. I’d sit out, but last time I did, I got a huge mosquito bite on my leg that is still itchy after several days. They hate me. LOL!

[E.G.C.]

A very pleasant good Monday morning and ((HUGS)) to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

Yesterday at Comanche Lake:

How's everyone doing this morning?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening/morning, Mooch...glad you enjoyed his bio. He knew exactly what he was doing. He was a great hero.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, E...((HUGS))...I see a VERY happy Gizmo enjoying a wonderful adventure at Comanche Lake.

A little bit of everything and a great roll in the tall grass.

You boys have a great Monday.

[radu]

Hang in there. There’s some more rain due north of you that should give you some rain if it doesn’t fizzle out.

We suddenly have some showers “blossoming” and coming up from AL now. I might get a dose too. One shower blew up just next to the farm but didn’t quite hit me. Drat.

It’s not too bad outside here. I sat on the patio for a few minutes listening to the katydids. No skeeters bothered to even buzz around my head, let alone bite me. I’m so glad they don’t like me. LOL

[radu]

Howdy, E.G.C. ((HUGZ))

YAY! Finally nice enough to head back out to the lake for some fun. Looks like Gizmo made the most of it.

[luvie]

You’re very lucky that skeeters don’t like you. They are most annoying!

Do you think you’ll get some rain from the hurricane that’s headed toward FL and then up the east coast? It sure looks like the outer bands could come really close to your area. Fingers crossed that they do! Without the bad part, of course.

[radu]

No, we won’t get anything from the hurricane. It will stay well south of us, cutting across SE Georgia and moving east towards the Atlantic. It has to move first. It’s stationary right now and almost looks like it’s backing up a little on the GOES web site.

[left that other site]

Amen.