Colonel Ola Lee Mize passes

Last night we received the sad news that Colonel Ola Lee Mize passed on at the tender age of 82. Colonel Mize was treasured in the Special Forces community as well as the rest of the military as a soldier’s soldier. He earned the medal of Honor. He earned the Medal of Honor in Korea as a buck sergeant and Marne Man, legend has it that he tried to refuse the award until the men he served with were honored for their part in the events as well. He was nominated for a second award during the Vietnam War, but it was denied by Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara because, the secretary said, he was an officer and already had one award of the medal. His citation reads;

M/Sgt. Mize, a member of Company K, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. Company K was committed to the defense of “Outpost Harry”, a strategically valuable position, when the enemy launched a heavy attack. Learning that a comrade on a friendly listening post had been wounded he moved through the intense barrage, accompanied by a medical aid man, and rescued the wounded soldier. On returning to the main position he established an effective defense system and inflicted heavy casualties against attacks from determined enemy assault forces which had penetrated into trenches within the outpost area. During his fearless actions he was blown down by artillery and grenade blasts 3 times but each time he dauntlessly returned to his position, tenaciously fighting and successfully repelling hostile attacks. When enemy onslaughts ceased he took his few men and moved from bunker to bunker, firing through apertures and throwing grenades at the foe, neutralizing their positions. When an enemy soldier stepped out behind a comrade, prepared to fire, M/Sgt. Mize killed him, saving the life of his fellow soldier. After rejoining the platoon, moving from man to man, distributing ammunition, and shouting words of encouragement he observed a friendly machinegun position overrun. He immediately fought his way to the position, killing 10 of the enemy and dispersing the remainder. Fighting back to the command post, and finding several friendly wounded there, he took a position to protect them. Later, securing a radio, he directed friendly artillery fire upon the attacking enemy’s routes of approach. At dawn he helped regroup for a counterattack which successfully drove the enemy from the outpost. M/Sgt. Mize’s valorous conduct and unflinching courage reflect lasting glory upon himself and uphold the noble traditions of the military service.

But a greater tribute is how Colonel Mize lived in the hearts of fellow soldiers;

“He was a soldier’s leader,” [Rick] Vaughan said. “If you had to pick a leader to go to war with, Lee Mize was the one you would want to pick. You would absolutely want to go with him because you knew he would take care of you, make sure you were prepared and had all the skill and knowledge you need to get there and get back safe.

“We just lost a living piece of history. He just can’t be replaced.”

Category: Blue Skies, Real Soldiers