The President of the United States
in the name of the Congress
takes pride in presenting the
in the name of the Congress
takes pride in presenting the
MEDAL OF HONOR
posthumously to
RUSSELL ALBERT STEINDAM
First Lieutenant United States Army
First Lieutenant United States Army
for service as set forth in the following
CITATION:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 1LT Steindam, Troop B, 3d Squadron, 4th Cavalry, while serving as a platoon leader, led members of his platoon on a night ambush operation. On the way to the ambush site, suspected enemy movement was detected on one flank and the platoon's temporary position was subjected to intense small arms and automatic weapons fire as well as a fusillade of hand and rocket-propelled grenades. After the initial barrage, 1LT Steindam ordered fire placed on the enemy position and the wounded men to be moved to a shallow bomb crater. As he directed the return fire against the enemy from his exposed position, a fragmentation grenade was thrown into the site occupied by his command group. Instantly realizing the extreme gravity of the situation, 1LT Steindam shouted a warning to alert his fellow soldiers in the immediate vicinity. Then, unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his safety, 1LT Steindam deliberately threw himself on the grenade, absorbing the full and fatal force of the explosion as it detonated. By his gallant action and self-sacrifice, he was able to save the lives of the nearby members of his command group. The extraordinary courage and selflessness displayed by 1LT Steindam were an inspiration to his comrades and are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.
Honor Roll Website:
http://www.virtualwall.org/ds/SteindamRA01a.htm
Taken from Russell's Honor Roll Site:
ReplyDeleteHey Dad,
My wife found this site and I wanted to write something as well.
I never got to meet you since I was born 23 days after your death, but I'm very proud of you for your valor. I Thank You for being the extraordinary soldier that you were and I'm proud to be following in your footsteps as a soldier. I am an Infantry Officer leading a platoon with the 1/23 Infantry Regiment. You have three amazing grandchildren who are starting to learn and understand what a true HERO their grandfather was. I only hope that I can be at least half the soldier that you were and that I can make you as proud of me as I am you. God Bless You Dad. I Love You.
I want to thank everyone who has left a message here. I would especially like to thank you SFC Finzel for your message you posted, it was a pleasure to read and my wife cried as she read it along with me. I do know what a great soldier he was from the stories I have heard. Again, thank you.
1LT Russell Steindam Matthews
Fort Lewis, Washington
matthews@armyocs.com