1st Lt. George K. Sisler
Courtesy of MI Factbook
First Lieutenant George K. Sisler was the first member of the Military
Intelligence Branch to received a Medal of Honor.
Lieutenant Sisler was a member of the 5th Special Forces Group, 1st
Special Forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 7 February 1967, Lieutenant
Sisler was the platoonleader/advisor to a special United States/Vietnam
exploitation force. While on patrol deep within enemy-dominated territory,
Lieutenant Sisler's platoon was attacked from three sides by a company
sized enemy force.
Lieutenant Sisler quickly rallied his men, deployed them to a better
defensive position, called for air strikes,and moved among his men to
encourage and direct their efforts. Learning that two men had been wounded
and were unable to pull back to the perimeter, Lieutenant Sisler charged
from the position through intense enemy fire to assist them. He reached
the men and began carrying one of them back to the perimeter, when
he was taken under more intensive automatic weapons fire by the enemy.
Laying down his wounded comrade, he killed three onrushing enemy soldiers
by firing his rifle and silenced the enemy machine-gun with a grenade.
As he returned the wounded man to the perimeter, the left flank of the
position came under extremely heavy attack by the superior enemy force
and several additional men of his platoon were quickly wounded. Realizing
the need for instant action to prevent his position from being overrun,
Lieutenant Sisler picked up some grenades and charged single-handedly
into the enemy onslaught, firing his weapon and throwing grenades.
This singularly heroic action broke up the vicious assault and forced
the enemy to begin withdrawing. Despite the continuing enemy fire,
Lieutenant Sisler was moving about the battlefield directing
air strikes upon the fleeing force when he fell mortally wounded.
1st Lt. George K. Sisler
Medal of Honor Citation
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army,
Headquarters and Headquarters Company,
5th Special Forces Group (Airborne),
1st Special Forces.
Place and date:
Republic of Vietnam.
7 February 1967.
Entered service at: Dexter, Mo.
Born: 19 September 1937, Dexter, Mo.
Citation:
For:conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life and above and
beyond the call of duty.
1st Lt. Sisler was the platoon leader/adviser to a
Special United States/Vietnam exploitation force. While on patrol deep
within enemy dominated territory, 1st Lt. Sisler's platoon was attacked
from 3 sides by a company sized enemy force. 1st Lt. Sisler quickly rallied
his men, deployed them to a better defensive position, called for air
strikes, and moved among his men to encourage and direct their efforts.
Learning that 2 men had been wounded and were unable to pull back to the
perimeter, 1st Lt. Sisler charged from the position through intense enemy
fire to assist them. He reached the men and began carrying 1 of them back
to the perimeter, when he was taken under more intensive weapons fire by
the enemy. Laying down his wounded comrade, he killed 3 onrushing enemy
soldiers by firing his rifle and silenced the enemy machinegun with a
grenade.
As he returned the wounded man to the perimeter, the left flank of
the position came under extremely heavy attack by the superior enemy force
and several additional men of his platoon were quickly wounded. Realizing
the need for instant action to prevent his position from being overrun, 1st
Lt. Sisler picked up some grenades and charged single-handedly into the
enemy onslaught, firing his weapon and throwing grenades. This singularly
heroic action broke up the vicious assault and forced the enemy to begin
withdrawing.
Despite the continuing enemy fire, 1st Lt. Sisler was moving
about the battlefield directing fire and several additional men of his
platoon were quickly wounded. His extraordinary leadership, infinite
courage, and selfless concern for his men saved the lives of a number of
his comrades.
His actions reflect great credit upon himself and uphold the
highest traditions of the military service.
USNS Sisler
Courtesy of Rocky Chilson and NASAA
Compiled from Army Public Affairs News Service
The name of a U. S. Army Intelligence Officer who received the Medal of Honor for his
gallantry during the Vietnam conflict, is now on the Navy’s rolls as a United States Navy
Ship (USNS).
Named after 1st Lt. George K. Sisler, the USNS SISLER was launched and dedicated on
Feb. 28, 1998 at the National Steel and Ship Building Company in San Diego, Calif. The
ship is part of a key element in the U. S. Army’s strategic mobility capability; it joins the
Military Sealift Command’s (MSC) prepositioned fleet. Known as a Navy Large
Medium-Speed Roll-on/Roll-off (LMSR) ship, the Sisler will be the centerpiece of
America’s sealift power projection into the next century. LMSRs will replace smaller
roll-on/roll-off ships currently being used to preposition the equipment for Army brigade
combat teams.
The ship’s roll-on/roll-off design makes it ideal for transporting Army tanks, trucks and
other wheeled and tracked military vehicles. Each LMSR ship provides between 300,000
and 390,000 square feet of cargo carrying space. The Sisler will be loaded with Army
equipment, supplies and material, after a brief shakedown period. The ship will provide
rapid delivery of urgently needed supplies and equipment to a theater of operations during
a crisis.
Awarded the Medal of Honor on Feb. 7, 1967, Sisler received the high honor after
distinguishing himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life, above
and beyond the call of duty.
The launching of the USNS SISLER recognizes the efforts and honor paid to an American
hero: 1st Lt. George K. Sisler