McKibben honored for action in Viet Nam
A group from American Legion Post 12 in Rockmart and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7401 in Buchanan recently attended a ceremony in honor of Ray McKibben at Center Baptist Church in Felton, located off highway 27 south of Cedartown.
A group of about 40 people attended the event at the church where P J Ploof is pastor.
McKibben, a soldier in the United State Army, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Vietnam War.
He joined the Army from Atlanta in 1967, and by December 1968 was serving as a Sergeant in Troop B, 7th Squadron (Airmobile), and 17th Cavalry Regiment. Near Song Mao in the Republic of Vietnam, he destroyed an enemy bunker, rescued a wounded comrade from under heavy fire, and attacked and destroyed two more bunkers before being mortally wounded while attacking a fourth bunker.
McKibben, age 23 at his death, was buried at Center Baptist Church in his birth city of Felton, Georgia.
Sergeant McKibben’s official Medal of Honor citation reads:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, Sgt. McKibben distinguished himself in action while serving as team leader of the point element of a reconnaissance patrol of Troop B, operating in enemy ter- ritory.
Sgt. McKibben was leading his point element in a movement to contact along a well-traveled trail when the lead element came under heavy automatic weapons fire from a fortified bunker position, forcing the patrol to take cover. Sgt. McKibben, appraising the situation and without regard for his own safety, charged through bamboo and heavy brush to the fortified position, killed the enemy gunner, secured the weapon and directed his patrol.
As the patrol moved out, he observed enemy movement to the flank of the patrol. Fire support from helicopter gunships was requested and the area was effectively neutralized. The patrol again continued its mission and as the lead element rounded the bend of a river it came under heavy automatic weapons fire from camouflaged bunkers. As Sgt. McKibben was deploying his men to covered positions, he observed one of his men fall wounded. Although bullets were hitting all around the wounded man, Sgt. McKibben, with complete disregard for his safety, sprang to his comrade’s side and under heavy enemy fire pulled him to safety behind the cover of a rock emplacement where he administered hasty first aid.
Observing the fire of another bunker impeding the patrol’s advance, Sgt. McKibben again singlehandedly assaulted the new position.
As he neared the bunker he was mortally wounded but was able to fire a final burst from his weapon killing the enemy and enabling the patrol to continue the assault.