James Caroll Gilbert (1926 - 1969)

Born 1 Jun 1926 in Carter, Tennessee, United States

Ancestors

Died 12 Mar 1969 at age 42 in Republic of South Vietnam

Problems/Questions Profile manager: William Gilbert [send private message]

Biography

Command Sergeant Major James C. Gilbert was born on June 1, 1926, he was the son of Eller Gilbert and Bertha Potter Gilbert. Command Sergeant Major James Caroll Gilbert is buried at Elk Mills Cemetery in Elk Mills, Carter County, TN.^[1]

On 12 March 1969, Command Sergeant Major James Caroll Gilbert was killed in action while serving in South Vietnam with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division.

Gilbert enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1947 and would climb to the rank of Command Sergeant Major and served 22 years before his stint in Vietnam. Engagements: • World War II • Vietnam War

Distinguished Service Cross Citation^[2]

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant Major James Caroll Gilbert (ASN: RA-44041639), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. Sergeant Major Gilbert distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 12 March 1969 while flying in a command and control helicopter with his brigade commander near Kontum. An ambulance helicopter evacuated a load of casualties from an infantry company in heavy contact with a battalion-size North Vietnamese Army force, but it was so badly damaged by enemy fire that it was unable to return for the remaining wounded. Realizing that the ground unit would be unable to maneuver until the injured men were extracted, Sergeant Major Gilbert urged the brigade commander to use his aircraft to complete the evacuation. He fired at the communists from tree-top level and directed the fire of the door gunners on two flights to the landing zone. On both attempts, however, the infantrymen were pinned down by hostile fire and unable to reach the ship. Although the helicopter had received a number of hits in the fuselage, Sergeant Major Gilbert directed the pilot to fly over the North Vietnamese nearest the pickup site and exposed himself to a hail of bullets by leaning out and firing into the enemy positions. During an approach to the landing zone, automatic weapons fire wounded the pilot and door gunner, forcing the co-pilot to wrench the ship into a series of evasive actions. Sergeant Major Gilbert detached his seat harness and braced himself in the doorway to shield the brigade commander and bring the most effective fire against the North Vietnamese. He succeeded in silencing one emplacement and was engaging another as the helicopter was nearing safety when he was struck and killed by the hostile fusillade. Command Sergeant Major Gilbert's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 1723 (May 14, 1969)

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross

Silver Star Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster

Legion of Merit

Purple Heart

Air Medal with Award Numeral 14

Army Commendation Medal

Army Good Conduct Medal

National Defense Service Medal

Vietnam Service Medal

Vietnam Campaign Medal

Combat Infantryman BadgeHonors

The name James C Gilbert is located on Panel 29W Line 19 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Sources

1. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #54838407
2. ↑ https://militaryhallofhonor.com/honoree-record.php?id=248883

• Elizabethtown Star https://www.elizabethton.com/2018/10/24/carter-county-to-honor-fallen-purple-heart-veteran-with-bridge-dedication/

Original data: National Archives and Records Administration.

Coffelt Database [Archival Database]; Records with Unit Information on Military Personnel Who Died During the Vietnam Conflict, ca. 1983-6/19/2002; Collection COFF: Richard Coffelt, Richard Arnold, and David Argabright Collection; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD.

Combat Area Casualties Current File, 6/6/1956-1/21/1998 [Archival Database]; Records on Military Personnel Who Died, Were Missing in Action or Prisoners of War as a Result of the Vietnam Conflict, 1/20/1967-12/1998; Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Record Group 330; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD.