![\"William](\"https:\/\/www.azuse.cloud\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/William-L.-Albracht-300x230.jpg\")
<\/a><\/center><\/p>\nThe other day, we talked about Francis Graham<\/a>, the former UDT Navy diver and Special forces Vietnam veteran, and it reminded me of a few months ago when a member of the media asked me to check on William L. Albracht, who he’d heard had earned three Silver Stars, so off I went to Military Times’ Hall of Heroes<\/a> thinking I’d bumped into another phony – but lo and behold, he had actually earned three Silver Stars, from October 1969 to May 1970. You can read the citations at the link.<\/p>\n The last one had been awarded in December 2012, reported by the Quad-City Times<\/a>;<\/p>\n Just 21 years old then, Albracht \u2014 one of the youngest Army Special Forces captains \u2014 arrived at a remote outpost in South Vietnam known as Fire-Base Kate on Oct. 28, 1969. That same day, North Vietnamese forces attacked the base.<\/p>\n \u201cAgainst great odds and while being greatly outnumbered by the North Vietnamese, Capt. Albracht led<\/p>\n his soldiers through the first wave of attacks,\u201d Smith said, adding that Albracht and his men were outnumbered 40-1. \u201cIt was not looking good for the home team.\u201d<\/p>\n While under enemy fire, Albracht carried a wounded soldier to safety and then risked his life again by directing medical evacuation helicopters.<\/p>\n \u201cAt one point, he exposed himself to enemy fire to wave off approaching Medevac helicopters \u2014 who were vulnerable to B-40 rockets \u2014 while attempting to land,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n Later wounded himself, Albracht refused treatment and evacuation \u201cso he could lead the fight.\u201d<\/p>\n Days later with supplies running low, he executed orders to evacuate the remaining 150 U.S. soldiers and South Vietnamese soldiers. On Nov. 1, 1969, he led the group through darkness into the dense jungle to link up with another unit five kilometers away.<\/p>\n \u201cFor six hours, Albracht and his men persevered, plowing through the jungle with the North Vietnamese in hot pursuit,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n Finally near a wide-open clearing, he \u201csensed a military force was present but was unsure the other side was occupied by the friendly \u2018Mike-Force\u2019 or a North Vietnamese ambush. Albracht then walked alone through the clearing to find the friendly \u2018Mike-Force\u2019 was on the other side.\u201d He then led his soldiers \u201cstealthily through more enemy lines\u201d to safety.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n You can read the whole story about the “Miraculous Escape from Firebase Kate<\/a>” at the Vietnam Veterans Association. His Congresswoman, Cheri Bustos,<\/a> has asked the Secretary of the Army to review the story and consider Mr. Albracht for the award of the Medal of Honor.<\/p>\n Added:<\/strong> Someone tells us that a book is coming out next year about Mr. Albracht; ABANDONED IN HELL: The Forgotten Fight for Vietnam’s Firebase Kate<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"