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Wesley Lee Fox
Colonel Wesley L. Fox, U.S. Marine Corps, Retired
Medal of Honor
Born September 30, 1931(1931-09-30) (age 93)
Place of birth Herndon, Virginia
Allegiance United States United States of America
Service/branch USMC logo United States Marine Corps
Years of service 1950 to 1993
Rank US-O6 insignia Colonel
Service number 096702
Unit 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines
1st Battalion, 9th Marines
MAG-11
MCRD San Diego
2nd Force Reconnaissance Company
Marine Air Detachment
SHAPE
Basic School, Quantico
Commands held Company A, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines
Battalion Commander, 1st Battalion, 6th Marines,
Commanding officer, U.S. Marine Corps Officer Candidate School, Quantico, Virginia
Battles/wars Korean War
Vietnam War
Awards Medal of Honor
Legion of Merit (2)
Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"
Purple Heart Medal (4)
Meritorious Service Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2) with Combat "V"
Combat Action Ribbon (2)
Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with silver star (3)
Vietnamese Armed Forces Honor Medal, 1st Class
Other work Deputy Commandant of Cadets at Virginia Tech
Marine Corps Recruiter

Wesley Lee Fox (born September 30, 1931) is a retired Colonel in the United States Marine Corps with 43 years of service. Fox received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Vietnam War. He is considered to be one of the legendary war heroes within the Marine Corps.

Biography[]

Fox was born to John Wesley and Desola Lee (née Crouch) Fox in Herndon, Virginia, the oldest of ten siblings. He attended Warren County High School in Fort Royal, Virginia until 1948.

Korean War[]

He enlisted in the Marine Corps shortly before his 19th birthday, on August 4, 1950 during the Korean War. He completed recruit training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris, Island, South Carolina. Serving as a rifleman with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, he was wounded in action in Korea on September 8, 1951 and sent to the U.S. Navy Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V". He recovered in 1952 and was sent back to Korea in 1954 as a Platoon Sergeant with Company G, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines. When he returned home from Korea, he was assigned to duty as both a drill instructor from 1955 to 1957 and a recruiter from 1957 to 1960. He was promoted to First Sergeant in May 1966. Shortly afterwards, he was commissioned as a Marine Second Lieutenant.

Vietnam War[]

Fox served in the Vietnam War for 13 months as an adviser to the Vietnamese Marine Corps. In November 1968, he became company commander of Company A, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines until May 1969. During Operation Dewey Canyon in Quang Tri Province, he was wounded twice on February 22, 1969. He was wounded the first time in the shoulder when his company was attacked by a large enemy force. 1st Lieutenant (then) Fox then personally neutralized one enemy emplacement and directed his company to destroy others. After his company's executive officer was mortally wounded, he continued to direct the company's actions, ordering air strikes and coordinating the advance until the enemy retreated. Fox, the only officer left in his company capable of resistance, was wounded again in the final assault but refused medical attention while he reorganized his troops and prepared the wounded for evacuation. For his heroic actions that day he was presented the Medal of Honor by President Richard Nixon on March 2, 1971.

Post Vietnam[]

He retired from the Marine Corps as a full colonel in September 1993 at the mandatory age of 62. He held every enlisted rank except Sergeant Major and every officer rank except General. He continued to wear the uniform for eight more years as a deputy commandant of cadets for the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets. During his time at Virginia Tech, Fox spoke of his experiences to America's next generation of military officers, business executives, and civic leaders.

Fox has written a book about his experiences in the military, Marine Rifleman: Forty-Three Years in the Corps (ISBN 1-57488-425-5), and was featured on the 2003 PBS program American Valor.

Fox resides in Blacksburg, Virginia, with his wife, Dotti (formerly Dotti Lu Bossinger). They have three daughters.

Military Awards and Decorations[]

Colonel Wesley L. Fox has been decorated for service, to include:

Diver Badge (USN)
United States Navy Parachutist Badge
Medal of Honor ribbon
Gold star
Legion of Merit ribbon
V
Bronze Star ribbon
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
Purple Heart BAR
Meritorious Service ribbon Joint Service Commendation ribbon
V
Gold star
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation ribbon
Gold star
Combat Action Ribbon
US Navy Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon AF Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon
Navy Unit Commendation ribbon
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Marine Corps Good Conduct ribbon
Bronze star
National Defense Service Medal ribbon
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
KSMRib
Silver star
Bronze star
Vietnam Service Ribbon
Bronze star
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
Arctic Service Ribbon
Silver star
Silver star
Vietnam gallantry cross-3d
Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal Ribbon Presidential Unit Citation (Korea) Vietnam gallantry cross unit award-3d
VNCivilActionsRibbon-2 United Nations Service Medal for Korea Ribbon Vietnam Campaign Medal Ribbon Korean War Service Medal ribbon
Diver insignia
Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia
1st Row Medal of Honor Legion of Merit w/ 1 Award Star
2nd Row Bronze Star Medal w/ Combat V Purple Heart w/ 3 Award Star Meritorious Service Medal Joint Service Commendation Medal
3rd Row Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/ Combat V & 1 Award Star Combat Action Ribbon Navy Presidential Unit Citation Army Presidential Unit Citation
4th Row Navy Unit Commendation Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation w/ 3 Service Star Marine Corp Good Conduct Medal w/ 4 Service Star National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 Service Star
5th Row Korean Service Medal w/ 3 Service Star Vietnam Service Medal w/ 6 Service Star Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ 1 Service Star Navy Arctic Service Ribbon
6th Row Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/ 2 Silver Stars Vietnam Staff Service Medal Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
7th Row Vietnam Civil Actions unit citation United Nations Korea Medal Vietnam Campaign Medal Korean War Service Medal

Medal of Honor citation[]

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to

CAPTAIN WESLEY L. FOX
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as commanding officer of Company A, in action against the enemy in the northern A Shau Valley. Capt. (then 1st Lt.) Fox's company came under intense fire from a large well concealed enemy force. Capt. Fox maneuvered to a position from which he could assess the situation and confer with his platoon leaders. As they departed to execute the plan he had devised, the enemy attacked and Capt. Fox was wounded along with all of the other members of the command group, except the executive officer. Capt. Fox continued to direct the activity of his company. Advancing through heavy enemy fire, he personally neutralized 1 enemy position and calmly ordered an assault against the hostile emplacements. He then moved through the hazardous area coordinating aircraft support with the activities of his men. When his executive officer was mortally wounded, Capt. Fox reorganized the company and directed the fire of his men as they hurled grenades against the enemy and drove the hostile forces into retreat. Wounded again in the final assault, Capt. Fox refused medical attention, established a defensive posture, and supervised the preparation of casualties for medical evacuation. His indomitable courage, inspiring initiative, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger inspired his marines to such aggressive action that they overcame all enemy resistance and destroyed a large bunker complex. Capt. Fox's heroic actions reflect great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps, and uphold the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.

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