Captain Ora Lee Boss

Description:

Captain Boss, deceased, Green Forest and Fayetteville, U. S. Army, Vietnam, awards include the Silver Star medal for gallantry, two awards of the Bronze Star medal for valor, the Air medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge and Expert Infantryman Badge. 

On 18 July 1967 Captain Boss was awarded the Silver Star for his actions in Vietnam.  The citation for that award reads as follows:

Company A, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry, the unit under the command of Captain Boss, was moving East through a dense jungle when the leading platoon made contact with an estimated Vietnamese Army Company at about 1200 hours.   A fierce firefight ensued in which eight enemy  soldiers were killed and 10 members of Captain Boss’ company were winded. When his lead elements became engaged, Captain Boss immediately raced forward to assume personal leadership of the critical situation disregarding substance sniper fire. He immediately instructed his artillery forward observer to commence heavy firing on the enemy and simultaneously called for an airstrike into the area. Correctly evaluating the Tactical situation, Captain Boss disengaged his command and moved his company to the west where the wounded were evacuated. At 1505 hours, Captain Boss resumed his advance to the east. As his 3rd platoon advanced, they again made contact with an estimated North Vietnamese Army Company. Once again, disregarding the intense small arms and severe mortar fire directed against his platoon, Captain Boss moved forward and calmly evaluated the tactical situation. Realizing that he could not maneuver responsibly in the extremely dense  jungle, he instructed his first and second platoon to withdraw in order to maneuver to the northeast and attack the enemy positions from the flank. As the platoons began moving, they were engaged with a heavy volume of sniper and automatic weapons fire from the rear and blank, as well as continued fire from the front. Recognizing that his company was in contact with a North Vietnamese Army Battalion size force, Captain Boss directed the position of the first and second platoon into the west and north side of the small landing zone as the beginning of a company defensive perimeter. The elements in the landing zone were attacked by “human waves” of determined and frantic enemy, but withstood the assault. Captain Boss personally coordinated the artillery fires being fired around the perimeter  disregarding the risk in continuously exposing himself to the heavy volume of rifle, automatic weapons and mortar fire which appeared to fill the landing Zone. he completely disregarded the enemy fire and positioned himself in the open, in the center of his unit so that he could continue to exercise control and command over all elements of the company. He refused to take advantage of available cover, and remained, throughout the rest of the savage fight, in full view of the enemy in order to best conduct the battle. Despite the fact that voice commands to his subordinate leaders drew immediate and intense sniper and rocket fire, Captain Boss calmly and unhesitatingly called his orders to his subordinates.mortar fire all around him, wounding him in the face. Disregarding his injury, Captain Boss continued to direct defense in the same firm and cool manner until the enemy withdrew. His unit took fifty casualties, but killed 150 of the enemy. Captain Boss never wavered, but calmly and gallantly fought with his company in the face of fierce and determined enemy efforts to overrun his position. Captain Boss’ heroism is in keeping with the highest Traditions the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army  

More Info:

Captain Boss, deceased, Green Forest and Fayetteville, U. S. Army, Vietnam, awards include the Silver Star medal for gallantry, two awards of the Bronze Star medal for valor, the Air medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge and Expert Infantryman Badge.