Continuing discussion on the Tommy Minogue story. John and Tom’s brother Jack Minogue shares Tommy Minogue’s story. Tommy Minogue, from Inwood in Manhattan, was killed in Vietnam on March 21, 1967 in a ferocious firefight that became known as the “Battle of One Niner.” He had just turned 20.
“One Niner” pitted Minogue and about a hundred of his fellow Americans against an estimated 1,000 North Vietnamese regular troops.
Anyone who has seen the movie “Forrest Gump” and its Vietnam battle scene will recognize the heroism of Tommy Minogue.
In the movie, Forrest, played by Tom Hanks, is awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroism under fire.
Tommy Minogue was on his way to being awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor for his heroism.
Then the army bureaucracy had another idea and awarded him the Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest award for gallantry.
This didn’t rest well with Minogue’s family and friends and a few years ago a campaign was launched to have Minogue promoted into the hallowed ranks of Medal of Honor winners.
Tomorrow’s Guantanamo parade is organized by Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay and it will require a joint effort involving an array of supporters to see the campaign for Minogue through to a successful conclusion.
One of those campaigners is Brigadier General John Hussey, who describes Minogue’s heroism in a parade news release.
Minogue, a field medic, was killed in action when, as Hussy describes, “he shielded his company commander from enemy automatic fire with his own body.”
Minogue, according to battlefield accounts, also took a machine gun from a fallen comrade and helped drive back the attackers.
Wrote General Hussey in part: “The North Vietnamese had killed most of the Company officers and were attempting to kill the company’s commanding officer and overwhelm the remaining U.S. soldiers. During the attack Pfc. Minogue procured a weapon and returned fire on enemy positions while simultaneously treating the wounds of his fellow soldiers before shielding his commanding officer from enemy fire.”
Minogue’s actions allowed the company commander, Captain Ronald Rykowski, to call in close air support, indirect fire and medical evacuations, and saved fellow American soldiers.
Tragically, Minogue was unable to defend himself as he took bullets aimed at Rykowski who himself had been wounded three times.
6 Mar 2021
Civil Affairs in the Military
Civil affairs soldiers help plan missions that may involve civilians, such as evacuations, and work with civilian aid agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and commercial and private organizations. They may also support counter-drug operations that involve civilians or non-combatants. Civil Affairs Soldiers are the governance and foreign-culture experts of the Army. They have the ability to engage with foreign populations and governments, gain understanding of the non-military factors that affect military operations, and affect change through the networks they build. The Civil Affairs Soldier is able to think and survive on their own, in any kind of operating environment.
CIVIL AFFAIRS ELIGIBILITY CHECKLIST
Civilian recruits, current Army Soldiers, and Army officers must fulfill different initial requirements to join Civil Affairs. To determine your eligibility, please read the following information carefully.
Joining the Army as a Civil Affairs Soldier
If you are interested in becoming a Civil Affairs Soldier, you must meet the following basic requirements:
You must pass an Army Physical Fitness Test and clear height/weight standards
You must have a PULHES 111221 or better
You must have an Enlisted Record Brief/Officer Record Brief
You must be within the rank of Specialist, Sergeant or Staff Sergeant
You must have an ASVAB TECH score 107 or above
You must meet time in service/time in grade requirements:
SPC: no less than one year TIS and no more than four years TIS and three years TIG
SGT: no less than two years TIS and no more than six years TIS and three years TIG
Be eligible for a Secret security clearance (security clearance is not required to attend)
Joining the Civil Affairs Branch as an Officer
In order to qualify as a Civil Affairs officer, you must have the following additional qualifications:
Be eligible for a Top Secret security clearance under provisions of AR 380-67
Be a First Lieutenant or Captain in a targeted year group
Possess a baccalaureate degree
Have a valid DA photo
3 Mar 2021
Part I: Vietnam Hero
PFC THOMAS FRANCIS MINOGUE
Initial series on the Tommy Minogue story. John and Tom’s brother Jack Minogue shares Tommy Minogue’s story. Tommy Minogue, from Inwood in Manhattan, was killed in Vietnam on March 21, 1967 in a ferocious firefight that became known as the “Battle of One Niner.” He had just turned 20.
“One Niner” pitted Minogue and about a hundred of his fellow Americans against an estimated 1,000 North Vietnamese regular troops.
Anyone who has seen the movie “Forrest Gump” and its Vietnam battle scene will recognize the heroism of Tommy Minogue.
In the movie, Forrest, played by Tom Hanks, is awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroism under fire.
Tommy Minogue was on his way to being awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor for his heroism.
Then the army bureaucracy had another idea and awarded him the Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest award for gallantry.
This didn’t rest well with Minogue’s family and friends and a few years ago a campaign was launched to have Minogue promoted into the hallowed ranks of Medal of Honor winners.
Tomorrow’s Guantanamo parade is organized by Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay and it will require a joint effort involving an array of supporters to see the campaign for Minogue through to a successful conclusion.
One of those campaigners is Brigadier General John Hussey, who describes Minogue’s heroism in a parade news release.
Minogue, a field medic, was killed in action when, as Hussy describes, “he shielded his company commander from enemy automatic fire with his own body.”
Minogue, according to battlefield accounts, also took a machine gun from a fallen comrade and helped drive back the attackers.
Wrote General Hussey in part: “The North Vietnamese had killed most of the Company officers and were attempting to kill the company’s commanding officer and overwhelm the remaining U.S. soldiers. During the attack Pfc. Minogue procured a weapon and returned fire on enemy positions while simultaneously treating the wounds of his fellow soldiers before shielding his commanding officer from enemy fire.”
Minogue’s actions allowed the company commander, Captain Ronald Rykowski, to call in close air support, indirect fire and medical evacuations, and saved fellow American soldiers.
Tragically, Minogue was unable to defend himself as he took bullets aimed at Rykowski who himself had been wounded three times.
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