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Vietnam War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
Lance Corporal Roy Mitchell Wheat, USMC
Roy Mitchell Wheat, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam in August 1967, was born 24 July 1947, in Moselle, Mississippi. He attended Jones County schools in Ellisville, Mississippi, leaving high school, after two years, in 1965.
In September 1966, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at Jackson, Mississippi. Private Wheat then reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. He underwent recruit training with the 2d Recruit Training Battalion, after which he completed special infantry training with the 1st Infantry Training Battalion, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Upon completion of infantry training, he was promoted to private first class, February 1967.
Private First Class Wheat arrived in the Republic of Vietnam in March 1967, and was assigned duty as a rifleman with Company K, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. His unit participated in numerous combat operations, including Operation DeSota, Duc Pho District, Quang Ngai Province; and Operations Webster, Arizona, Butler and Gem in Quang Nam Province. He was promoted to lance corporal, June 1967.
While assigned, with two other Marines, the mission of providing security for a Navy construction battalion crane and crew operating along Liberty Road in the vicinity of Dien Ban District, Quang Nam Province on 11 August 1967, Lance Corporal Wheat was killed by multiple shrapnel wounds received when he unintentionally triggered a well concealed antipersonnel mine.
His medals and decorations include: the Medal of Honor, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Purple Heart with one Gold Star, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars, the Vietnamese Military Merit Medal, the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Corporal Wheat was survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Wheat of Moselle, Mississippi, and three brothers.
CITATION:
Rank and organization: Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, Company K, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 11 August 1967. Entered service a*: Jackson, Miss. Born: 24 July 1947, Moselle, Miss. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. L/Cpl. Wheat and 2 other marines were assigned the mission of providing security for a Navy construction battalion crane and crew operating along Liberty Road in the vicinity of the Dien Ban District, Quang Nam Province. After the marines had set up security positions in a tree line adjacent to the work site, L/Cpl. Wheat reconnoitered the area to the rear of their location for the possible presence of guerrillas. He then returned to within 10 feet of the friendly position, and here unintentionally triggered a well concealed, bounding type, antipersonnel mine. Immediately, a hissing sound was heard which was identified by the 3 marines as that of a burning time fuse. Shouting a warning to his comrades, L/Cpl. Wheat in a valiant act of heroism hurled himself upon the mine, absorbing the tremendous impact of the explosion with his body. The inspirational personal heroism and extraordinary valor of his unselfish action saved his fellow marines from certain injury and possible death, reflected great credit upon himself, and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Navy Names Newest USNS Ship for Medal of Honor Recipient
Story Number: NNS031003-23
Release Date: 10/3/2003 3:25:00 PM
Special release from the U.S. Department of Defense
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy will officially name its newest prepositioning ship USNS Lance Cpl. Roy M. Wheat, Oct. 7, during a 10:30 a.m. EDT ceremony at Blount Island Command, Jacksonville, Fla.
Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Atlantic, Lt. Gen. Martin R. Berndt, is the ceremony's principal speaker. Margaret Taylor, wife of Rep. Gene Taylor of Mississippi, will serve as ship's sponsor and break a bottle of champagne across the bow to officially name the ship.
The ship is named in honor of Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Roy M. Wheat (1947-1967), a native of Moselle, Miss. Aug. 11, 1967, Wheat heroically sacrificed his life to save the lives of two other Marines. After warning his fellow Marines when he unintentionally triggered a concealed anti-personnel mine, Wheat valiantly hurled himself upon the mine, absorbing the impact of the explosion with his own body.
Wheat's unselfish action saved his comrades from certain injury and possible death. Wheat's other awards include: the Navy Commendation Medal, Purple Heart with one Gold Star, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Stars, Vietnam Military Merit Medal, Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
A non-combatant vessel, the Wheat will be operated by a private company under contract to the Navy's Military Sealift Command, with a crew of 31 commercial mariners as a part of the Maritime Prepostioning Force (MPF) program.
The Wheat is capable of carrying about 200,000 square feet of roll-on/roll-off and container cargo. The ship will be prepositioned to augment the existing MPF assets and will carry additional capabilities such as an expeditionary airfield, a naval construction battalion, and a fleet hospital. The ship is 864 feet in length, has a beam of 98 feet, a draft of 35 feet, displaces 50,059 long tons fully loaded, and can sustain speeds of more than 20 knots.
Courtesy of Find A Grave
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