Valor Friday
Wesley Lee Fox (September 30, 1931 – November 24, 2017) was a United States Marine Corps Colonel with 43 years of service. Fox received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the Vietnam War, and is considered to be one of the Marine Corps’ legendary heroes. During his career, he held every enlisted rank except sergeant major and every officer rank except the general officer ranks. After retiring from the Marines Corps, he wrote a book about his career — Marine Rifleman: Forty-Three Years in the Corps; and, he served for 8 years as Deputy Commandant for the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets.
Citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as commanding officer of Company A, in action against the enemy in the northern A Shau Valley. Capt. (then 1st Lt.) Fox’s company came under intense fire from a large well concealed enemy force. Capt. Fox maneuvered to a position from which he could assess the situation and confer with his platoon leaders. As they departed to execute the plan he had devised, the enemy attacked and Capt. Fox was wounded along with all of the other members of the command group, except the executive officer. Capt. Fox continued to direct the activity of his company. Advancing through heavy enemy fire, he personally neutralized 1 enemy position and calmly ordered an assault against the hostile emplacements. He then moved through the hazardous area coordinating aircraft support with the activities of his men. When his executive officer was mortally wounded, Capt. Fox reorganized the company and directed the fire of his men as they hurled grenades against the enemy and drove the hostile forces into retreat. Wounded again in the final assault, Capt. Fox refused medical attention, established a defensive posture, and supervised the preparation of casualties for medical evacuation. His indomitable courage, inspiring initiative, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger inspired his marines to such aggressive action that they overcame all enemy resistance and destroyed a large bunker complex. Capt. Fox’s heroic actions reflect great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps, and uphold the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
His awards include, besides the CMOH:
Bronze Star w/ Combat “V”
Purple Heart w/ three Gold Stars
Meritorious Service Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/ Combat “V”
Combat Action Ribbon w/ one Gold Star
Navy Presidential Unit Citation
Army Presidential Unit Citation
Navy Unit Commendation
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation w/ four Bronze Stars
Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal w/ four Bronze Stars
National Defense Service Medal w/ two Bronze Stars
Korean Service Medal w/ three Bronze Stars
Vietnam Service Medal w/ one Silver Star and one ?Bronze Star
Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ three Bronze Stars
Navy Arctic Service Ribbon
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/ two Silver Stars
Armed Forces Honor Medal, 1st class (Vietnam)
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross) w/ Palm and Frame
United Nations Korea Medal
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal w/ 1960- Device
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Fair winds and following seas, Col. Fox.
Category: Marines, The Warrior Code, We Remember
Rest in Peace, Colonel.
Semper Fi, Sir.
What a warrior!!!! It’s not the CMOH guys, it never has been. Its the MOH, Medal of Honor. There is no congressional before hand.
From my research, the Medal is presented “In the name of Congress” so both are correct, with “The Congressional Medal of Honor” being used less frequently.
The search engine of your choice is full of both usages, but my major reference is http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3284/fox-wesley-l.php
I’ll not argue with the Medal’s Official Organization.
Thanks for the input- be pretty dull around here is we all agreed all the time. Kind of goes without saying, but feel free to call me out on my posts- keeps me honest, and you’re all going to do it anyway.
Thank you very much for your response. So far every regulation I’ve read as they pertain to individual Awards in the United States military list it as the Medal of Honor. In fact sometimes the award of that particular honor bypasses Congress altogether even though the award is presented in the name of. Personally, if I were ever given such an honor I wouldn’t want that group of that idiot’s name attached to it. So, respectfully, I stand by my original statement. I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree.
Dear God never would I want to be in consideration for such an honor. If so it would of course be posthumous, and my remains would be little toasted bits of fish food with a hint of JP-5, but that’s kind of the point.
I wouldn’t be in any condition to complain about the award’s name.
And neither would you.
*grin*
So agree to disagree it is, and I get the first round, where/when ever it it may be.
As a side note I do not want our agreement or disagreement to overshadow the valorous and career accomplishments of such an amazing warrior. I’m not fit to shine his boots, lol.
That, sir, goes without saying.
It was pounded into our heads during Basic and AIT in 1971 that the CMH we shitbirds would most likely be awarded would not be a Congressional Medal of Honor, but would be a Coffin, Metal Handles.
Like you, AW1Ed, I never wanted to be awarded either one. Godspeed Colonel, to a Warriors Warrior.
What a man. I am humbled by men and women such as this. I am in awe of this man’s heroics.
I wonder if he ever served with Chesty. It would have been possible.
Fox was a Rifleman in I Co 3rd Battalion Fifth Marines in Jan 1951 through Sept 1951 as part of the 1st Marine Division.
Chesty was promoted to Brigadier General in January 51 and served as both the Assistant Division Commander and Division Commander until he rotated stateside in May of 1951.
So Yes, Fox was under Chesty’s command for 5 months, howbeit he was pretty far down the chain.
Thanks for your research. Great men from a great generation, before I was even born.
I met COL Fox in Chicago in 2009 at the Medal of Honor convention. It was an honor to meet him. I did not know that he passed away.
I heard him speak at TBS – truly inspiring. I only wish I had recorded it since that was 20 years ago and I can’t remember much other than it was awesome. I also met him briefly in 2003 at Lejeune when he was signing his “Marine Rifleman” book.
That says something. Full bird, Medal of Honor, ‘uge stack o’ ribbons and medals and he names his memoir “Marine Rifleman”. Humble indeed.
All I can say is WOW and RIP. what a Marine.
Please note the complete absence of gay biker leather vests, service dogs and embroidered baseball cap.
Bluffers, valor thieves and bores raise your game.
And with my luck someone will post a photo of Col. FOX riding a Harley, blinged up with a service dog riding pillion…
I can likely get you close with a pic of The Gunny; somehow I doubt you’re in much danger with Col. Fox so garbed.