James William Fous

Vietnam War Medal of Honor Recipient. He received the award posthumously, through his mother, from President Richard M. Nixon at the White House on April 7, 1970 for his actions a private first Class in Company E, 4th Battalion, 47th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division, on May 14, 1968 in the Kiến Hòa Province, Republic of Vietnam. After graduating from Omaha Central High School in 1964, he attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha and joined the US Army in 1967. Following his basic training, he was sent to Vietnam where on May 14, 1968 he was killed in action at the age of 21 while engaging enemy forces for which he received the Medal of Honor. His other military awards include the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. His Medal of Honor citation reads "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Pfc. Fous distinguished himself at the risk of his life while serving as a rifleman with Company E. Pfc. Fous was participating in a reconnaissance-in-force mission when his unit formed its perimeter defense for the night. Pfc. Fous, together with 3 other American soldiers, occupied a position in a thickly vegetated area facing a woodline. Pfc. Fous detected 3 Viet Cong maneuvering toward his position and, after alerting the other men, directed accurate fire upon the enemy soldiers, silencing 2 of them. The third Viet Cong soldier managed to escape in the thick vegetation after throwing a hand grenade into Pfc. Fous' position. Without hesitation, Pfc. Fous shouted a warning to his comrades and leaped upon the lethal explosive, absorbing the blast with his body to save the lives of the 3 men in the area at the sacrifice of his life. Pfc. Fous' extraordinary heroism at the cost of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army." His name is inscribed on Panel 60E, Line 11 of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC.