Michael-Dorch

Typical 173d Airborne Soldier by Sp5 Ralph Dixon For his actions near Hue during the Tet Offensive of '68, an 18-year-old Paratrooper earned the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star and a Purple Heart, all during a 30 day period. The highly decorated Soldier, Sgt Michael E. Dorch, 21, of Tampa, Fl, is currently serving his second tour in Vietnam. Dorch started his military service at the ripe old age of 17 when he enlisted in the Army in `66. Immediately upon completion of Jump School he attended supply school at Ft Lee, Va. After a short stint at Ft Bragg, he joined the 2d Bn, 501st Inf, 101st Airborne Division at Ft Campbell and came to Vietnam with the division. "We arrived in 'Nam in December of '67 and were stationed at Camp El Paso, later known as Camp Eagle. I was the supply clerk with the Battalion when it made its first contact, sustaining numerous casualties. I volunteered to go to the field, and was sent to Co A," recalls Dorch. He was in the field a month when he saw his first action. Co A was participating in a Battalion sweep near Hue during Tet of '68 when it encountered a Battalion of North Vietnamese in trench lines. A Company became pinned down from heavy enemy fire. During the battle, Dorch and three other men knocked out an enemy machine gun position. For his actions the Specialist received an Army Commendation Medal with "V" for valor. He also received his first Purple Heart. "We managed to crawl close enough to destroy it. We had to pop smoke to mark our position as we were in front of our own troops." They moved back, bringing in more wounded. Lockhart got hit, and Dorch carried him back. Mortar fire kept falling on their position. By this time, the casualty count was six dead and 30 wounded, so the Company retreated across a river and broke contact. Dorch was presented the DSC in the States. Less than two weeks later Sgt Dorch once again distinguished himself in battle. He was awarded the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star and an Oak Leaf Cluster for his Purple Heart. When his tour ended, Dorch finished his hitch in the States and was discharged. "After eight months I decided to come back in the Army. I re-enlisted in March of this year and volunteered for Vietnam. There's a job to be done, and I feel this is where I'm needed most." Dorch, who is currently assigned to HHC, 3d Bn, 503d Inf, 173d Abn Bde, hopes to be back in the field in the near future.
		Just 60 days later the 'month of heroism' began when received the Silver Star and a field promotion to Sergeant for valorous actions near the DMZ. It wasn't until this time that the former supply clerk was officially designated an Infantryman. Nineteen days went by before Sgt Dorch recommended for another medal ...... the DSC. "We were on Operation Carentan III, just 19 days after the last action, when one of our Companies walked into an ambush. We were called in as a Reaction Force, being the closest element. My Squad was on point. We did the 'Airborne Shuffle' order to get there on time. We went about 200 meters when we got hit from all sides," he said.
Dorch, in the rear of the Squad pushed forward with a man named Lockhart to retrieve the wounded. They were crossing a bomb crater when an enemy soldier jumped in front of Dorch. They cut him down. After pulling back some of the wounded, they began receiving heavy mortar fire. Running back to get the rest of the wounded, they spotted a wounded GI lying in front of an enemy machine gun bunker. Unable to fire for fear of hitting him, the two men flanked the position. They closed in, knocked it out with grenades and retrieved the man. `There were over 15 wounded and several dead, so the Company pulled back to set up a defensive position. While Gunships fired 10 to 15 feet in front of the American troops, Dorch and Lockhart moved forward once again, this time to try to locate and knock out an enemy mortar tube.`

Typical 173d Airborne Soldier by Sp5 Ralph Dixon

For his actions near Hue during the Tet Offensive of '68, an 18-year-old Paratrooper earned the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star and a Purple Heart, all during a 30 day period. The highly decorated Soldier, Sgt Michael E. Dorch, 21, of Tampa, Fl, is currently serving his second tour in Vietnam. Dorch started his military service at the ripe old age of 17 when he enlisted in the Army in `66. Immediately upon completion of Jump School he attended supply school at Ft Lee, Va. After a short stint at Ft Bragg, he joined the 2d Bn, 501st Inf, 101st Airborne Division at Ft Campbell and came to Vietnam with the division. "We arrived in 'Nam in December of '67 and were stationed at Camp El Paso, later known as Camp Eagle. I was the supply clerk with the Battalion when it made its first contact, sustaining numerous casualties. I volunteered to go to the field, and was sent to Co A," recalls Dorch. He was in the field a month when he saw his first action. Co A was participating in a Battalion sweep near Hue during Tet of '68 when it encountered a Battalion of North Vietnamese in trench lines. A Company became pinned down from heavy enemy fire. During the battle, Dorch and three other men knocked out an enemy machine gun position. For his actions the Specialist received an Army Commendation Medal with "V" for valor. He also received his first Purple Heart. "We managed to crawl close enough to destroy it. We had to pop smoke to mark our position as we were in front of our own troops." They moved back, bringing in more wounded. Lockhart got hit, and Dorch carried him back. Mortar fire kept falling on their position. By this time, the casualty count was six dead and 30 wounded, so the Company retreated across a river and broke contact. Dorch was presented the DSC in the States. Less than two weeks later Sgt Dorch once again distinguished himself in battle. He was awarded the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star and an Oak Leaf Cluster for his Purple Heart. When his tour ended, Dorch finished his hitch in the States and was discharged. "After eight months I decided to come back in the Army. I re-enlisted in March of this year and volunteered for Vietnam. There's a job to be done, and I feel this is where I'm needed most." Dorch, who is currently assigned to HHC, 3d Bn, 503d Inf, 173d Abn Bde, hopes to be back in the field in the near future.

Just 60 days later the 'month of heroism' began when received the Silver Star and a field promotion to Sergeant for valorous actions near the DMZ. It wasn't until this time that the former supply clerk was officially designated an Infantryman. Nineteen days went by before Sgt Dorch recommended for another medal ...... the DSC.

"We were on Operation Carentan III, just 19 days after the last action, when one of our Companies walked into an ambush. We were called in as a Reaction Force, being the closest element. My Squad was on point. We did the 'Airborne Shuffle' order to get there on time. We went about 200 meters when we got hit from all sides," he said.

Dorch, in the rear of the Squad pushed forward with a man named Lockhart to retrieve the wounded. They were crossing a bomb crater when an enemy soldier jumped in front of Dorch. They cut him down. After pulling back some of the wounded, they began receiving heavy mortar fire. Running back to get the rest of the wounded, they spotted a wounded GI lying in front of an enemy machine gun bunker. Unable to fire for fear of hitting him, the two men flanked the position. They closed in, knocked it out with grenades and retrieved the man.
There were over 15 wounded and several dead, so the Company pulled back to set up a defensive position. While Gunships fired 10 to 15 feet in front of the American troops, Dorch and Lockhart moved forward once again, this time to try to locate and knock out an enemy mortar tube.

Photos shared by Michael Dorch (1967)