How do you upgrade a military award that was bestowed more than 50 years ago? John Hussey of Cornwall assumed it wouldn’t be easy. But when he was asked for help, he wasn’t about to say “no.”
“As a General Officer in the United States Army Reserve,” he reasoned, “I felt it was my moral obligation to help the family of a fallen soldier.” The soldier, PFC Thomas Minogue, sacrificed his life in Vietnam in 1967 so the company commander and the rest of his company could survive.
Following the battle, PFC Minogue was nominated for the Medal of Honor (the highest possible award), but the recommendation was changed by his chain of command and he received the Distinguished Service Cross instead.
For several years, the Minogue family members tried to get the award upgraded. But they were unable to find the right person to help them. When they finally connected with Brig. Gen. Hussey, he asked them to obtain the original file, which he reviewed before beginning his quest.
The Awards and Decorations Branch of the Army had advised him to interview soldiers who had seen PFC Minogue in action during the battle of March 21, 1967. Given the time that had passed, locating witnesses wasn’t easy. Gen. Hussey contacted personnel, searched the Internet and reunion websites, but could find only two living witnesses. In a letter to the Department of the Army, he cited their testimony in addition to the statements he found in the file. His research led to the following account:
“According to testimony from PFC Minogue’s fellow soldiers, the company was attacked by a battalion-size element of North Vietnamese combatants. They had killed most of the company’s officers and were attempting to kill the company’s commanding officer and overwhelm the remaining U.S. soldiers.
“During the attack, PFC Minogue returned fire on the enemy while simultaneously treating the wounds of his fellow soldiers before shielding his commander from enemy fire.
“Because the company commander was the only soldier who could call for close air support, indirect fire, and MEDEVAC, PFC Minogue’s actions subsequently prevented the North Vietnamese troops from overwhelming the remaining American soldiers. His sacrifice saved not only the company commander’s life, but also the lives of several other U.S. service members who were able to withstand and survive the enemy attack.”
Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney wrote to the Army to support the Minogue family request. And this spring, PFC Minogue was honored posthumously as the grand marshal of a St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
The Army reopened the case, but after several months, it confirmed its original decision. The award was not upgraded. But through the efforts of the Minogue family and Gen. Hussey, a new generation learned about a true American hero.
