David P. Nash
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David Paul Nash (November 3, 1948 – December 29, 1968) was a
United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...
soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the
Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...
—for his actions in the
Vietnam War The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...
.


Biography

David Paul Nash, known as "Paulie" to his friends, was the son of Ishmael Worth Nash (1915–1980) and Mary Stella Nash ''née'' Howard (born 1925) and had six brothers and one sister. David Paul Nash was "a typical country boy who loved to fish and hunt, was not afraid of hard work, and raised a tobacco crop with his older brother ... was a member of St. Mary's of the Woods Catholic Church, where he was an altar boy ... after schooling at St. Mary's High School, was drafted into the United States Army and ... had no second thoughts about serving his country in Vietnam; he expressed to friends and family that it was the right thing to do ...".Google search for bill
/ref> Nash joined the Army from
Whitesville, Kentucky Whitesville is a home rule-class city in Daviess County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 580 as of the 2020 Census, up from 552 as of the 2010 census. It is included in the Owensboro, Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area. The ci ...
, and by December 29, 1968, was serving as a private first class in Company B, 2nd Battalion,
39th Infantry Regiment The 39th Infantry Regiment is a parent regiment in the United States Army. Originally organized for service in World War I, the 39th fought in most of the conflicts involving the United States during the 20th century, and since 1990 the 2nd B ...
, 9th Infantry Division. On that day, in Giao Duc District,
Dinh Tuong Province Dinh may refer to: Dinh ''pronounced "zinh" or "yinh"'' * Dinh River (Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu), river in Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu, one of five rivers named Sông Dinh in Vietnam. * núi Dinh, hills in Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu, Vietnam Đình ''pronoun ...
,
Republic of Vietnam South Vietnam, officially the Republic of Vietnam (RVN; , VNCH), was a country in Southeast Asia that existed from 1955 to 1975. It first garnered international recognition in 1949 as the State of Vietnam within the French Union, with it ...
, Nash smothered the blast of an enemy-thrown
grenade A grenade is a small explosive weapon typically thrown by hand (also called hand grenade), but can also refer to a Shell (projectile), shell (explosive projectile) shot from the muzzle of a rifle (as a rifle grenade) or a grenade launcher. A mod ...
with his body, sacrificing his life to protect his fellow soldiers. Nash, aged 20 at his death, was buried in Saint Mary of the Woods Cemetery in his birth city of Whitesville, Kentucky. The section of Kentucky Highway 54 which runs through Whitesville is named "The David P. 'Paulie' Nash Memorial Highway".


Medal of Honor citation

Private Nash'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. Pfc. Nash distinguished himself while serving as a
grenadier A grenadier ( , ; derived from the word ''grenade'') was historically an assault-specialist soldier who threw hand grenades in siege operation battles. The distinct combat function of the grenadier was established in the mid-17th century, when ...
with Company B, in Giao Duc District. When an
ambush An ambush is a surprise attack carried out by people lying in wait in a concealed position. The concealed position itself or the concealed person(s) may also be called an "". Ambushes as a basic military tactics, fighting tactic of soldi ...
patrol of which he was a member suddenly came under intense attack before reaching its destination, he was the first to return the enemy fire. Taking an exposed location, Pfc. Nash suppressed the hostile fusillade with a rapid series of rounds from his grenade launcher, enabling artillery fire to be adjusted on the enemy. After the foe had been routed, his small element continued to the ambush site where he established a position with 3 fellow soldiers on a narrow dike. Shortly past midnight, while Pfc. Nash and a comrade kept watch and the 2 other men took their turn sleeping, an enemy grenade wounded 2 soldiers in the adjacent position. Seconds later, Pfc. Nash saw another grenade land only a few feet from his own position. Although he could have escaped harm by rolling down the other side of the dike, he shouted a warning to his comrades and leaped upon the lethal explosive. Absorbing the blast with his body, he saved the lives of the 3 men in the area at the sacrifice of his life. By his gallantry at the cost of his life are in the highest traditions of the military service, Pfc. Nash has reflected great credit on himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.


See also

*
List of Medal of Honor recipients The Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War and is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces. Recipients must have distinguished themselves at the risk of their own ...
*
List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War The Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War and is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces. The recipients must have distinguished themselves at the risk of their o ...


Notes


References

: * {{DEFAULTSORT:Nash, David P. 1948 births 1968 deaths United States Army Medal of Honor recipients People from Daviess County, Kentucky United States Army soldiers Vietnam War recipients of the Medal of Honor Deaths by hand grenade United States Army personnel killed in the Vietnam War