David Herbert McNerney

U.S. Army
Medal Of Honor, Vietnam

 Photo Courtesy of HomeOfHeroes.com

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First Sergeant McNerney was assisting in the development of a defensive perimeter when he encountered several enemy at close range. He killed them but was injured when blown from his feet by a grenade. In spite of this injury, he assaulted and destroyed an enemy machinegun position that had pinned down five of his comrades beyond the defensive line. Upon learning his commander and artillery forward observer had been killed, he assumed command of the company. He adjusted artillery fire to within 20 meters of his position in a daring measure to repulse enemy assaults. When the smoke grenades used to mark the position were gone, he moved into a clearing to designate the location to friendly aircraft. He remained exposed until he was certain the position was spotted and then climbed into a tree and tied the identification panel to its highest branches. As the hostile assaults slackened, he began clearing a helicopter landing site to evacuate the wounded. When explosives were needed to remove large trees, he crawled outside the perimeter to collect demolition material from abandoned rucksacks. Moving through a fusillade of fire he returned with the explosives that were vital to the clearing of the landing zone.

David McNerney's father, Edward McNerney, earned the Distinguished Service Cross in World War I. Two of David McNerney's brothers served in World War II, and another brother served as a Navy pilot in Vietnam.

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