Most Decorated Soldier of Vietnam Died Without any Public Notice:

[VIETNAM 1968]

While doing some checking of Congressional Medal of Honor winners I came across some information on the most decorated Soldier of the Vietnam War. His name was Joe Hooper. Like the Vietnam War itself, Joe Hooper's life and various acts of heroism went unnoticed until the following article was written in the Seattle Times. Unfortunately it took his untimely death before anyone even took time to remember his life and military career.


Joe Hooper was the most decorated soldier of the Vietnam War, earning more decorations then World War II's Audie Murphy or World War I's Sgt. Alvin York. Sgt. York's widow received more media notice, when she died earlier this year, then Joe Hooper did when he died in May 1979 of a Cerebral Hemorrhage. And Hooper was local, raised in Eastern Washington and working in Seattle after he got out of the Army. But hardly anyone noticed.

Hooper was just 40 years old when he died in a hotel room in Kentucky, where he had gone to learn about raising race horses. In his own way, Hooper was an appropriate hero for the Vietnam War and the millions of men and women it touched. He was a good soldier, but a troubled civilian.

Hooper had been awarded 35 medals, including the Congressional Medal of Honor, 2 Silver Stars, 6 Bronze Stars, and 8 Purple Hearts. He was credited with killing 115 North Vietnamese, but the number was probably much higher then that. He used to say he could smell the enemy.

Hooper knew that heroes from other wars would be remembered long after him. In 1977, Hooper summed up his fleeting fame and the war in Vietnam.

"It's sort of like the war itself," he said. "So many people wanted to forget it when I was fighting it. Why would they want to remember us now?"

Hooper was raised in Yakima, became a state scoring champion in Football and top national runner in High School. But instead of continuing his education, Hooper joined the service. He went into the Navy, but when it came time to re-enlist, the Navy recruiter was out to lunch, so he joined the Army.

It was in the Army with the 101st Airborne Division that Hooper founded his specialty. Hooper could kill enemy soldiers. On February 21, 1968, during the Tet Offensive , and some of the hardest fighting of the war, Staff Sergeant Joe Hooper was leading a reckon squad near the northern city of Hue. "We stumbled across what turned out to be the North Vietnamese divisional headquarters," he recalled later. "It was 6 of us against maybe 140 of them. It was hand to hand and the main battle lasted 6 1/2 hours and it seemed like a long time before other companies got there to help." "In all we killed 85 and captured 13. I was credited with 22 killed."

When Hooper used to talk about the day for which he won the Congressional Medal of Honor, he told the story matter of factually. The telling wasn't much different then the way it was told on the official citation that went with the award.

Hooper and his men came on a heavily defended North Vietnamese position and were hit by machine-gun fire, rockets and automatic weapons. Hooper was wounded four times, but kept up the attack.

At one point, Company D was coming under enemy fire from four bunkers. Hooper gathered an armful of hand grenades and ran down the line of bunkers, tossing the grenades inside. Then he ran across an open field and rescued a wounded soldier. while rescuing the soldier, Hooper shot three more North Vietnamese officers and set up a defense line before allowing himself to be taken out for treatment.

He was promoted to Second Lieutenant, went on a world wide speaking tour and then went back to Vietnam for a second tour. "I went back partly because on my first tour I didn't lose a man," he said, "and with my training and leadership qualities, I thought I could save some lives again."

After his second tour, Hooper went to Fort Polk, La., where he was in charge of Basic Trainees. But he didn't fit in well with the stateside version of the Army, and he resigned his commission. He returned to Yakima, but found civilian life a bit boring.

"When you retire from guerrilla fighting, it is not something you just walk away from without losing some part of you," he said. "In those days, you lived, almost thrived, on fear. Now there is no fear in my life, and I admit I'm a little flat."

The boredom led to drinking and that led to other trouble. "Joe was a hell raiser," a friend said, "and he was fast becoming an alcoholic."

But the Medal of Honor Society protects its own, and Hooper was brought to Seattle where he got a job with the Veterans Administration as a counselor. He did that for a few years before he became bored again, and wanted to get back into raising horses as he had in Eastern Washington.

Hooper moved to Kentucky to attend school on raising thoroughbreds, and he was going to the Kentucky Derby when he died peacefully in his hotel room on May 4 or 5, 1979. A blood vessel had burst in his head.

His death was not noted by the media until a year later, when a story about local Medal of Honor winners mentioned that he was dead. The only mention before that was in the Medal of Honor Society's newsletter. Hooper was buried in Arlington, Va---near the tomb of the unknown soldier.

There was some talk of making a movie about him, as was done with Audie Murphy and Alvin York, but the Vietnam War, and it's soldiers, were not popular subjects back then.

When Hooper talked with High School students, the veteran with the most decorations from the Vietnam War, would offer this piece of advice about serving in that war:

"I would tell my children, if I were to do this over--Go to Canada, don't fight--Don't fight a war you can't win."

Like most other Vietnam Veterans, I was totally unaware of Joe Hooper, and his background. Audie Murphy and Alvin York are names that almost every American knows completely. Ask those same Americans who the most decorated Soldier of the Vietnam War was and I can guarantee that no one will know Joe Hooper's name or background. He is another example of a war that most people still want to forget.

I hope that this entry has been informative and enjoyable.


To all of my Vietnam Veteran Brothers and Sisters I again state:


WELCOME HOME


VIETNAM 1968

[39mto39g]

In Feb 1968 my platoon was with a company of 101st guys. We were south of the New city of Hue in some swamp, Toward Phu_Bi , One evening the 101 RTO said that they had contact and were about to move out, They left behind about 30 guys and had-up to go help. I never heard just what happened before I left the area. Id like to think I was in the same area as Joe Hopper.
I may not have known who he was before now, but you can bet I'll know who he is 20 years from now.

Ron

[catman]

Just started reading the book about his life story. Will post a review when I finish. So far, the book is more about the politics of the Vietnam War rather than about the man.

Trav

[VIETNAM 1968]

As I continued to investigate Vietnam Congressional Medal of Honor recipients I uncovered another unknown and unrecognized American hero from that unpopular war. Like Joe Hooper, he was not recognized for his actions, even though he was nominated for three Congressional Medals of Honor. The only GI, from all branches of the service, to ever be nominated that many times. Also like Joe Hooper, Robert L. Howard is not known by the American people who still remember Audie Murphy and Alvin York who fought in more popular wars. The following was taken from a Web Sight honoring Congressional Medal of Honor winners.


"Robert L. Howard, one of America's most decorated soldiers served five tours of duty in Vietnam and is the only soldier in our nation's history to be nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor three times, for three separate actions within a thirteen month period. Although it can only be awarded once to an individual, men who served with him said he deserved all three decorations on their own merits. Robert L. Howard received a direct appointment from Master Sergeant to First Lieutenant in 1969 and was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by President Richard M. Nixon at the White House in 1971. His other awards for valor include the Distinguished Service Cross--our nations second highest award, the Silver Star--the third highest award and numerous lesser decorations including eight Purple Hearts. He received his decorations for valor in actions while serving as an NCO (Sergeant First Class)."

"Robert L. Howard grew up in Opelika, Alabama and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1956 at the age of seventeen. He retired as a full Colonel in 1992 after 36 years of service. During Vietnam, he served in the U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Berets) and spent most of his five tours in the super secret MACV-SOG (Military Assistance Command Vietnam-Studies and Observations Group) also known as Special Operations Group, which ran classified cross border operations into Laos, Cambodia and North Vietnam. These men carried out some of the most daring and dangerous missions ever conducted by the U.S. Military. The understrength sixty man reckon company at Kontum, in which Robert L. Howard served, was the Vietnam War's most highly decorated unit of its size, receiving five Congressional Medals of Honor. It was for his actions while serving on a mission to rescue a fellow soldier in Cambodia, that Robert L. Howard was nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor, the third time, for his extraordinary heroism."

"Although Robert L. Howard's gallant deeds have gone virtually unrecognized by the media, and unknown to most of the American People, he remains one of the most decorated soldiers from the Vietnam War. He was the last Vietnam Special Forces Congressional Medal of Honor recipient still on Active Duty when he retired on September 29, 1992."


It is extremely important for future generations to remember all their Military heroes, and their great sacrifices they were called upon to make. Just because Vietnam was an unpopular war and not supported by the majority of the American Public, the names of Joe Hooper and Robert L. Howard should be as well known as those of Audie Murphy and Alvin York!! To not be aware of them is an insult to every man and woman that stepped forward and answered their country's call to serve in that unpopular war.


To all of my Vietnam Veteran Brothers and Sisters I again state:


WELCOME HOME:


VIETNAM 1968

[frisco-kid]

I've known about Joe Hooper for a few years now, but it's a shame that I [we] haven't known about him for a lot longer.

Here's Joe receiving his MOH from Nixon.

[frisco-kid]

He doesn't look like a killer and a dangerous man,........but then most of us didn't.

[David]

Here is his actual citation:

http://www.patriotfiles.com/modules....icle&artid=138

HOOPER, JOE R.

Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company D, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. Place and date: Near Hue, Republic of Vietnam, 21 February 1968. Entered service at: Los Angeles, Calif. Born: 8 August 1938, Piedmont, S.C. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Staff Sergeant (then Sgt.) Hooper, U.S. Army, distinguished himself while serving as squad leader with Company D. Company D was assaulting a heavily defended enemy position along a river bank when it encountered a withering hail of fire from rockets, machine guns and automatic weapons. S/Sgt. Hooper rallied several men and stormed across the river, overrunning several bunkers on the opposite shore. Thus inspired, the rest of the company moved to the attack. With utter disregard for his own safety, he moved out under the intense fire again and pulled back the wounded, moving them to safety. During this act S/Sgt. Hooper was seriously wounded, but he refused medical aid and returned to his men. With the relentless enemy fire disrupting the attack, he single-handedly stormed 3 enemy bunkers, destroying them with hand grenade and rifle fire, and shot 2 enemy soldiers who had attacked and wounded the Chaplain. Leading his men forward in a sweep of the area, S/Sgt. Hooper destroyed 3 buildings housing enemy riflemen. At this point he was attacked by a North Vietnamese officer whom he fatally wounded with his bayonet. Finding his men under heavy fire from a house to the front, he proceeded alone to the building, killing its occupants with rifle fire and grenades. By now his initial body wound had been compounded by grenade fragments, yet despite the multiple wounds and loss of blood, he continued to lead his men against the intense enemy fire. As his squad reached the final line of enemy resistance, it received devastating fire from 4 bunkers in line on its left flank. S/Sgt. Hooper gathered several hand grenades and raced down a small trench which ran the length of the bunker line, tossing grenades into each bunker as he passed by, killing all but 2 of the occupants. With these positions destroyed, he concentrated on the last bunkers facing his men, destroying the first with an incendiary grenade and neutralizing 2 more by rifle fire. He then raced across an open field, still under enemy fire, to rescue a wounded man who was trapped in a trench. Upon reaching the man, he was faced by an armed enemy soldier whom he killed with a pistol. Moving his comrade to safety and returning to his men, he neutralized the final pocket of enemy resistance by fatally wounding 3 North Vietnamese officers with rifle fire. S/Sgt. Hooper then established a final line and reorganized his men, not accepting treatment until this was accomplished and not consenting to evacuation until the following morning. His supreme valor, inspiring leadership and heroic self-sacrifice were directly responsible for the company's success and provided a lasting example in personal courage for every man on the field. S/Sgt. Hooper's actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army .

[urbsdad6]

Thanks to all for some extremely powerful stories and information. What more can be said? I am extremely grateful for their service and glad to see them get recognition 30 some years later. Welcome home.

Doc Urb

[colmurph]

Bob Howard was my rater when I was with SOC-K. Heck of a fine soldier.

[PHO127]

Bill and I were both Artillery officers out of our branch. He was a helicopter pilot and I with the SF. We were both on our 4th tour in VN in 70-71 when he was KIA. this is his MOH Citation.

ADAMS, WILLIAM E.
Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Army, A/227th Assault Helicopter Company, 52d Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade. Place and Date: Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam, 25 May 1971. Entered Service at: Kansas City, Mo. Born: 16 June 1939, Casper, Wyo. Citation: Maj. Adams distinguished himself on 25 May 1971 while serving as a helicopter pilot in Kontum Province in the Republic of Vietnam. On that date, Maj. Adams volunteered to fly a lightly armed helicopter in an attempt to evacuate 3 seriously wounded soldiers from a small fire base which was under attack by a large enemy force. He made the decision with full knowledge that numerous antiaircraft weapons were positioned around the base and that the clear weather would afford the enemy gunners unobstructed view of all routes into the base. As he approached the base, the enemy gunners opened fire with heavy machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and small arms. Undaunted by the fusillade, he continued his approach determined to accomplish the mission. Displaying tremendous courage under fire, he calmly directed the attacks of supporting gunships while maintaining absolute control of the helicopter he was flying. He landed the aircraft at the fire base despite the ever-increasing enemy fire and calmly waited until the wounded soldiers were placed on board. As his aircraft departed from the fire base, it was struck and seriously damaged by enemy anti-aircraft fire and began descending. Flying with exceptional skill, he immediately regained control of the crippled aircraft and attempted a controlled landing. Despite his valiant efforts, the helicopter exploded, overturned, and plummeted to earth amid the hail of enemy fire. Maj. Adams' conspicuous gallantry, intrepidity, and humanitarian regard for his fellow man were in keeping with the most cherished traditions of the military service and reflected utmost credit on him and the U S. Army.