Today
we pause to remember and honor 1LT George K Sisler, FOB-2, who was KIA
on February 7, 1967. He was the leader of an Exploitation Force in Laos
when he was killed, and awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions.
The ranking enlisted man on the mission, SFC Leonard W Tilley earned the
DSC for his actions (separate post).
1LT Sisler, SFC Tilley, SP5 James M Woods, SGT William J Ernst, Jr and 33 Montagnard soldiers were inserted from Dak To launch site on February 5, 1967 to conduct BDA after a B-52 bombing raid in Laos, near Highway 96. After two days of running their mission, on the afternoon of February 7, an aerial resupply was delivered. A half-hour later the team was attacked on three sides by a large NVA force. The team pulled back into a tight perimeter on a hilltop and 1LT Sisler transmitted a notification of a Prarie Fire situation. Even with some air support arriving, the team battled on for hours and eventually only 3 of platoon remained unwounded.
To learn more about the brave actions of the men that day, read 1LT Sisler’s MOH citation below, the citation for SFC Tiller’s in a separate post and if you have the book ‘Uncommon Valor’ see pages 75-81.
1LT Sisler, aged 29 at his death, was buried at Dexter Cemetery in his hometown of Dexter, Missouri. He was survived by his parents, wife Jane and sons David and Jim. He was a 1964 graduate of Arkansas State College (now Arkansas State University) with a degree in education.[3] He was a member of the U.S. Army's Military Intelligence Corps. He was also famous for his toughness, once parachuting while having a broken bone. The ASU ROTC department's Ranger Challenge team is named Sisler's Raiders in his honor. He was inducted into the MI Corps Hall of Fame in 1988, and the Intelligence Center dedicated Sisler Hall on Fort Huachuca in his honor. The light medium speed Naval ship USNS Sisler is named after him. He is listed on the Vietnam Wall: Panel 15E Row 007.
Medal of Honor CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant George Kenton Sisler (ASN: OF-110068), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, in action against enemy aggressor forces at Republic of Vietnam, on 7 February 1967. First Lieutenant Sisler was the platoon leader/adviser to a Special United States/Vietnam exploitation force. While on patrol deep within enemy dominated territory, First Lieutenant Sisler's platoon was attacked from three sides by a company sized enemy force. First Lieutenant Sisler quickly rallied his men, deployed them to a better defensive position, called for air strikes, and moved among his men to encourage and direct their efforts. Learning that two men had been wounded and were unable to pull back to the perimeter, First Lieutenant Sisler charged from the position through intense enemy fire to assist them. He reached the men and began carrying one of them back to the perimeter, when he was taken under more intensive weapons fire by the enemy. Laying down his wounded comrade, he killed three onrushing enemy soldiers by firing his rifle and silenced the enemy machinegun with a grenade. As he returned the wounded man to the perimeter, the left flank of the position came under extremely heavy attack by the superior enemy force and several additional men of his platoon were quickly wounded. Realizing the need for instant action to prevent his position from being overrun, First Lieutenant Sisler picked up some grenades and charged single-handedly into the enemy onslaught, firing his weapon and throwing grenades. This singularly heroic action broke up the vicious assault and forced the enemy to begin withdrawing. Despite the continuing enemy fire, First Lieutenant Sisler was moving about the battlefield directing his force and several additional men of his platoon were quickly wounded. His extraordinary leadership, infinite courage, and selfless concern for his men saved the lives of a number of his comrades. His actions reflect great credit upon himself and uphold the highest traditions of the military service.
1LT Sisler, SFC Tilley, SP5 James M Woods, SGT William J Ernst, Jr and 33 Montagnard soldiers were inserted from Dak To launch site on February 5, 1967 to conduct BDA after a B-52 bombing raid in Laos, near Highway 96. After two days of running their mission, on the afternoon of February 7, an aerial resupply was delivered. A half-hour later the team was attacked on three sides by a large NVA force. The team pulled back into a tight perimeter on a hilltop and 1LT Sisler transmitted a notification of a Prarie Fire situation. Even with some air support arriving, the team battled on for hours and eventually only 3 of platoon remained unwounded.
To learn more about the brave actions of the men that day, read 1LT Sisler’s MOH citation below, the citation for SFC Tiller’s in a separate post and if you have the book ‘Uncommon Valor’ see pages 75-81.
1LT Sisler, aged 29 at his death, was buried at Dexter Cemetery in his hometown of Dexter, Missouri. He was survived by his parents, wife Jane and sons David and Jim. He was a 1964 graduate of Arkansas State College (now Arkansas State University) with a degree in education.[3] He was a member of the U.S. Army's Military Intelligence Corps. He was also famous for his toughness, once parachuting while having a broken bone. The ASU ROTC department's Ranger Challenge team is named Sisler's Raiders in his honor. He was inducted into the MI Corps Hall of Fame in 1988, and the Intelligence Center dedicated Sisler Hall on Fort Huachuca in his honor. The light medium speed Naval ship USNS Sisler is named after him. He is listed on the Vietnam Wall: Panel 15E Row 007.
Medal of Honor CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant George Kenton Sisler (ASN: OF-110068), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, in action against enemy aggressor forces at Republic of Vietnam, on 7 February 1967. First Lieutenant Sisler was the platoon leader/adviser to a Special United States/Vietnam exploitation force. While on patrol deep within enemy dominated territory, First Lieutenant Sisler's platoon was attacked from three sides by a company sized enemy force. First Lieutenant Sisler quickly rallied his men, deployed them to a better defensive position, called for air strikes, and moved among his men to encourage and direct their efforts. Learning that two men had been wounded and were unable to pull back to the perimeter, First Lieutenant Sisler charged from the position through intense enemy fire to assist them. He reached the men and began carrying one of them back to the perimeter, when he was taken under more intensive weapons fire by the enemy. Laying down his wounded comrade, he killed three onrushing enemy soldiers by firing his rifle and silenced the enemy machinegun with a grenade. As he returned the wounded man to the perimeter, the left flank of the position came under extremely heavy attack by the superior enemy force and several additional men of his platoon were quickly wounded. Realizing the need for instant action to prevent his position from being overrun, First Lieutenant Sisler picked up some grenades and charged single-handedly into the enemy onslaught, firing his weapon and throwing grenades. This singularly heroic action broke up the vicious assault and forced the enemy to begin withdrawing. Despite the continuing enemy fire, First Lieutenant Sisler was moving about the battlefield directing his force and several additional men of his platoon were quickly wounded. His extraordinary leadership, infinite courage, and selfless concern for his men saved the lives of a number of his comrades. His actions reflect great credit upon himself and uphold the highest traditions of the military service.
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