Corporal Koontz, Leonard USMC
Navy Cross

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the NAVY CROSS to

CORPORAL LEONARD KOONTZ
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

For extraordinary heroism while serving as a radio operator with Company M, Third Battalion, Fourth Marines, Third Marine Division in the Republic of Vietnam on 27 May 1968. While Company M was on a patrol near the Khe Sanh Combat Base, Corporal (then Lance Corporal) Koontz’ platoon became pinned down by intense automatic weapons fire from a large North Vietnamese Army force occupying fortified positions on the crest of Hill 542. Alertly locating the hostile defenses, Corporal Koontz gave his radio to another Marine and crawled across the fire-swept terrain toward the closest enemy fortification. Fearlessly moving on top of the North Vietnamese emplacement, he destroyed the bunker with a hand grenade, killing one enemy soldier. Immediately entering the remains of the position, Corporal Koontz killed a second North Vietnamese defender with his pistol. Pinpointing another hostile bunker from which enemy soldiers were throwing grenades at the Marines, he unhesitatingly assaulted the emplacement and, hurling hand grenades into the structure, killed its occupants. Realizing that the intense hostile fire was disrupting casualty evacuation efforts, he delivered suppressive fire against the enemy positions, enabling Marines to assist their wounded comrades to positions of relative safety. Although partially dazed by an impacting North Vetnamese mortar round, he resolutely moved to aid two injured Marines and assisted them to a covered area. Returning to his dangerously exposed firing position, Corporal Koontz steadfastly continued to deliver effective fire upon the enemy until the last of his wounded companions had been evacuated. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and unwavering devotion to duty, Corporal Koontz was instrumental in saving several Marines from possible death or serious injury and by so doing he upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.