When Army Spc. 4th Class Edward Allen DeVore Jr.'s company was attacked in the jungles of Vietnam, he did everything in his power to beat the enemy back. After a squadron of soldiers were pinned down, DeVore gave his life to ensure they could get to safety. For his selfless actions, he received a posthumous Medal of Honor.
DeVore was born June 15, 1947, in Henryetta, Oklahoma, to Edward Sr. and Evelyn DeVore. When DeVore Jr. was about 4 years old, his family moved to Harbor City, California, where he and his two siblings grew up.
After graduating from Narbonne High School in 1966, DeVore joined the Army as the Vietnam War was raging. By March 17, 1968, he found himself in the heart of the fighting.
On that day, DeVore was serving as a machine gunner with B Company, 4th Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division, during a reconnaissance mission in a swampy area of the Mekong Delta about 5 miles south of Saigon.
DeVore's platoon, acting as the company's lead element, was abruptly attacked by intense automatic weapons fire, rockets, grenades and claymore mines from a well-concealed bunker in the swamp about 65 feet away. Quickly, one soldier was killed and three more were wounded.
Despite the obvious danger, DeVore ran through a hail of gunfire to provide cover fire with his M60 machine gun. His valiant actions allowed soldiers to move the wounded back to safety, but the company continued to be attacked as they waited for supporting artillery, airstrikes and gunships to rescue them. One particular squad was pinned down in the middle of the firefight.
DeVore disregarded his own safety and went forward to assault the enemy in an effort to save the squad. About 115 feet before reaching the enemy bunker, DeVore was hit in the shoulder and knocked down. He ignored the pain and jumped to his feet to continue his assault, despite warnings from his fellow soldiers.
As DeVore continued to fire on the enemy, he was struck and killed. However, by drawing fire on himself, the trapped squad was able to rejoin the rest of the platoon behind friendly lines.
DeVore gave his life to save his fellow soldiers.
On April 7, 1970, DeVore's family received the Medal of Honor on his behalf from President Richard M. Nixon during a White House ceremony that also honored 20 other posthumous medal recipients.
DeVore is buried at Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.
His name has not been forgotten. In 1974, a building at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, was named in his honor. In 2017, DeVore was inducted into the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame. Three years later, a portion of a highway in Oklahoma was also named in his honor.
This article is part of a weekly series called “Medal of Honor Monday,” in which we highlight one of the more than 3,500 Medal of Honor recipients who have received the U.S. military's highest medal for valor. The new National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas, will celebrate these recipients when it opens its doors on National Medal of Honor Day, March 25, 2025.