Posted 08/10/2010 ET
Updated 08/10/2010 ET

Friday August 6, 2010: David Charles Dolby passed away. Sgt. Dave “Mad Dog” Dolby was with the 101st Airborne and the 75th Ranger Regiment. Mr. Dolby earned his MOH in Vietnam because of his actions involving profound courage.  Please take a moment to keep is memory alive and read the citation of a hero.

Rank: Sergeant
Organization: U.S. Army
Company: Company B, 1st Battalion
Division: 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division
Born: 14 May 1946, Norristown, Pa.
Departed: Yes (08/06/2010)
Entered Service At:  Philadelphia, Pa.
Date of Issue: 09/28/1967
Place / Date: Republic of Vietnam, 21 May 1966

Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, when his platoon, while advancing tactically, suddenly came under intense fire from the enemy located on a ridge immediately to the front. Six members of the platoon were killed instantly and a number were wounded, including the platoon leader. Sgt. Dolby's every move brought fire from the enemy. However, aware that the platoon leader was critically wounded, and that the platoon was in a precarious situation, Sgt. Dolby moved the wounded men to safety and deployed the remainder of the platoon to engage the enemy. Subsequently, his dying platoon leader ordered Sgt. Dolby to withdraw the forward elements to rejoin the platoon. Despite the continuing intense enemy fire and with utter disregard for his own safety, Sgt. Dolby positioned able-bodied men to cover the withdrawal of the forward elements, assisted the wounded to the new position, and he, alone, attacked enemy positions until his ammunition was expended. Replenishing his ammunition, he returned to the area of most intense action, single-handedly killed 3 enemy machine gunners and neutralized the enemy fire, thus enabling friendly elements on the flank to advance on the enemy redoubt. He defied the enemy fire to personally carry a seriously wounded soldier to safety where he could be treated and, returning to the forward area, he crawled through withering fire to within 50 meters of the enemy bunkers and threw smoke grenades to mark them for air strikes. Although repeatedly under fire at close range from enemy snipers and automatic weapons, Sgt. Dolby directed artillery fire on the enemy and succeeded in silencing several enemy weapons. He remained in his exposed location until his comrades had displaced to more secure positions. His actions of unsurpassed valor during 4 hours of intense combat were a source of inspiration to his entire company, contributed significantly to the success of the overall assault on the enemy position, and were directly responsible for saving the lives of a number of his fellow soldiers. Sgt. Dolby's heroism was in the highest tradition of the U.S. Army.