BUCHA, PAUL WILLIAM Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army, Company D, 3d
Battalion. 187th Infantry, 3d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. Place and date:
Near Phuoc Vinh, Binh Duong Province, Republic of Vietnam, 16-19 March 1968.
Entered service at., U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. Born: I August
1943, Washington, D.C. Citation, For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in
action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.
Capt. Bucha distinguished himself while serving as commanding officer, Company
D, on a reconnaissance-in force mission against enemy forces near Phuoc Vinh,
The company was inserted by helicopter into the suspected enemy stronghold to
locate and destroy the enemy, During this period Capt. Bucha aggressively and
courageously led his men in the destruction of enemy fortifications and base
areas and eliminated scattered resistance impeding the advance of the company.
On 18 March while advancing to contact, the lead elements of the company became
engaged by the heavy automatic weapon, heavy machinegun, rocket propelled
grenade, claymore mine and small-arms fire of an estimated battalion-size force.
Capt. Bucha, with complete disregard for his safety, moved to the threatened
area to direct the defense and ordered reinforcements to the aid of the lead
element. Seeing that his men were pinned down by heavy machinegun fire from a
concealed bunker located some 40 meters to the front of the positions, Capt.
Bucha crawled through the hail of fire to singlehandedly destroy the bunker with
grenades.
During this heroic action Capt. Bucha received a painful shrapnel wound.
Returning to the perimeter, he observed that his unit could not hold its
positions and repel the human wave assaults launched by the determined enemy.
Capt. Bucha ordered the withdrawal of the unit elements and covered the
withdrawal to positions of a company perimeter from which he could direct fire
upon the charging enemy. When friendly element retrieving casualties was
ambushed and cut off from the perimeter, Capt. Bucha ordered them to feign death
and he directed artillery fire around them. During the night Capt. Bucha moved
throughout the position, distributing ammunition, providing encouragement and
insuring the integrity of the defense. He directed artillery, gunship and Air
Force gunship fire on the enemy strong points and attacking forces, marking the
positions with smokegrenades. Using flashlights in complete view of enemy
snipers, he directed the medical evacuation of 3 air-ambulance loads of
seriously wounded personnel and the helicopter supply of his company. At
daybreak Capt. Bucha led a rescue party to recover the dead and wounded members
of the ambushed element.
During the period of intensive combat, Capt. Bucha, by his extraordinary
heroism, inspirational example, outstanding leadership and professional
competence, led his company in the decimation of a superior enemy force which
left 156 dead on the battlefield. His bravery and gallantry at the risk of his
life are in the highest traditions of the military service, Capt. Bucha has
reflected great credit on himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
The original name of Capt. Bucha was Buha. His people came from Slavonia. He is
now the President of the Medal of Honor Society in America.