Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego -- The Medal of Honor is the United States of America's highest military honor and often comes with great sacrifice. It is awarded for personal acts of valor a service member displays by going above and beyond the call of duty.
Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego had the honor of hosting Medal of Honor recipients retired Col. Bob J. Modrzejewski, retired Maj. Gen. James E. Livingston and retired Col. Jay R. Vargas, all Vietnam veterans, during the morning colors and graduation ceremonies, June 20.
Modrzejewski, a Milwaukee, Wis., native risked his own life as he went above and beyond the call of duty while serving as commanding officer of Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, in the Republic of Vietnam from July 15 to 18, 1966.
His unit battled the enemy for two and a half days after their initial engagement. On the second night, Modrzejewski was wounded in the action of taking over an enemy fortress, which was fought at close quarters. Although he was exposed to enemy fire, and regardless of his painful wounds, he crawled 200 meters to provide needed ammunition to his exposed Marines.
Modrzejewski called in artillery fire within a few meters of his position and courageously inspired the efforts of his company in fighting off the enemy attack. On July 18, Company K was attacked by a regimental size enemy force. His unit was weakened and outnumbered, but it didn’t stop Modrzejewski from leading his men into heroic limits as they fought to overcome their enemy. Again, he called in air and artillery strikes at close range with deadly effects on the enemy.
Heroism has been displayed in many different ways throughout America’s history. Livingston, a Towns, Ga., native, showed his heroism through leadership as he fought aside his men in Dai Do, Vietnam.
Livingston, commanding officer of Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade, fought against enemy forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On May 2, 1968, Livingston’s unit launched an assault on the village of Dai Do. He placed his men in assault positions across 500 meters of dangerous open rice paddies while under enemy fire. As enemy rounds impacted near him, he continued to lead his men in the assault against enemy emplacements within the village.
Even after being painfully wounded twice by grenade fragments, he continued to push forward and lead his men by destroying more than 100 mutually-supporting bunkers and driving the remaining enemy from their positions. Livingston then led his men to join forces with another company that was currently under heavy enemy fire.
Wounded a third time and unable to walk, he remained in an exposed area and deployed his men to more defensible positions and supervised the evacuation of casualties. He was evacuated himself, but not before he knew all of his Marines were safely gone.
Vargas, commanding officer of Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade, led his Marines into the battle taking place at Dai Do as well.
Vargas, suffered from wounds he received the previous day, when he and his Marines fought across 700 meters of open rice paddy while under intense enemy mortar, rocket and artillery fire. Wounded by grenade fragments, he refused aid as he and his men fought through the dangerous area to make a strong defense at the edge of the village.
Vargas and his company held their position fighting off the enemy until the next morning when they then battled their way into the village. He sustained his third injury while rendering aid to his Marines who were in the open area..
He witnessed his battalion commander sustain serious injuries, and with disregard of his own pain and safety as he crossed the heavy under fire area to carry his commander to cover. He continued to aid his Marines by supervising and encouraging them in organizing the battalion's defense.
“Livingston organized for us to be here, and I’m glad we could visit and see how today’s Marine Corps is operating,” said Modrzejewski. “It was nice to be able to join the colors ceremony and then watch the new Marines march across the parade deck as we once did,”
There is no doubt Modrzejewski, Livingston and Vargas showed their valor to their Marines and country by showing their leadership and courage during the Vietnam War. The depot was honored to have hosted these three gentlemen as they toured through the Drill Instructors School, museum and other places aboard the depot to speak with past, present and future Marines and service members.