He had been in Vietnam for just 51 days when his unit was ambushed in a rice field. Within minutes, more than 30 American soldiers were casualties. Even after suffering three wounds that left him unable to walk, a young Army medic continued crawling through the mud to reach his wounded comrades. His name was Clarence Eugene Sasser. And his actions on January 10, 1968, would earn him the Medal of Honor. Sasser was serving as a medical aidman with the U.S. Army's 60th Infantry Regiment in Dinh Tuong Province, South Vietnam. His responsibility was to provide medical care to soldiers during combat. But nothing could have fully prepared him for what happened that day. During a reconnaissance operation, his unit suddenly came under intense enemy fire. The attack was devastating. Within the opening minutes, more than 30 men had been wounded or otherwise become casualties. Soldiers were scattered across the rice field. Some were unable to move. Others were trapped in exposed positions while enemy fire continued around them. For a medic, every passing minute mattered. A wounded soldier might survive if someone could reach him quickly enough. But getting to those men meant crossing open ground under fire. Sasser did not wait for the danger to pass. He ran across the exposed rice field toward the wounded. As he moved between soldiers, a mortar strike wounded his left shoulder. He continued working. Despite the pain, he kept providing emergency treatment to the men who needed him. Then he was wounded again. And again. The additional injuries left his legs unable to support him. He could no longer run. He could barely move. But approximately 100 meters away, another American soldier needed help. Sasser began dragging himself through the mud. Every movement required extraordinary effort. He was wounded, losing blood and in severe pain. Enemy fire continued around him. Yet he kept moving toward the injured soldier. One meter at a time, he crossed the distance. When he finally reached the man, Sasser began treating his wounds. But he did not stop there. He continued helping other soldiers who were still exposed to danger. According to his Medal of Honor citation, he encouraged another group of wounded men to crawl approximately 200 meters toward a position offering greater safety. Sasser moved with them. Once they reached that location, he continued treating their injuries. For five hours, he remained with the wounded. Five hours of pain. Five hours of uncertainty. Five hours of providing medical assistance while waiting for evacuation. He had already suffered three wounds himself. His legs had been immobilized by his injuries. And he had lost a significant amount of blood. But he continued focusing on the soldiers around him. His determination helped keep wounded men alive until they could be evacuated. The battle eventually ended, but Sasser's actions remained unforgettable to the men who had witnessed them. He had been in Vietnam for less than two months. His tour lasted only 51 days. Yet during that brief period, he demonstrated extraordinary courage under some of the most dangerous circumstances imaginable. On March 7, 1969, President Richard Nixon presented Clarence Sasser with the Medal of Honor. It was the United States military's highest decoration for valor. The citation recognized his willingness to risk his life repeatedly to provide medical care to wounded comrades. But Sasser's story did not end with the ceremony. After returning home, he began building a future beyond military service. James Earl Rudder, president of Texas A&M University and a decorated World War II veteran, personally offered him a scholarship. Sasser had previously studied chemistry at the University of Houston. He accepted the opportunity to continue his education at Texas A&M, enrolling as a chemistry major in August 1969. It marked the beginning of another chapter. For education #fyp #suppourtourvetrans #supportoursoldiers #foryourpage - @charlesswanson05