The Selfless Sacrifice of Corporal William Thomas Perkins Jr.

On October 12, 1967, Corporal William Thomas Perkins Jr., a U.S. Marine and combat photographer, displayed extraordinary courage during a critical mission in the Republic of Vietnam. Assigned to Company C, First Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division, Perkins was tasked with documenting Operation MEDINA—a high-stakes reconnaissance and combat mission southwest of Quang Tri. This operation placed Company C in the midst of a dense jungle landscape as they searched for, and prepared to engage, North Vietnamese Army (NVA) forces.

As Company C pushed deeper into enemy territory, they encountered a numerically superior NVA force, estimated to include between two and three companies. Fierce combat erupted, especially around the helicopter landing zone, which was also the Company C Command Post. This area became the focal point of intense fighting, with the Marines locked in close quarters combat against a relentless enemy assault.

In the heat of the battle, as bullets flew and explosions erupted around them, an enemy grenade suddenly landed in close proximity to Corporal Perkins and three other Marines. Instantly assessing the lethal threat, Perkins shouted a warning to his fellow Marines: “Incoming grenade!” In an extraordinary act of bravery, he did not hesitate. Realizing that his comrades would be gravely wounded or killed, he hurled himself onto the grenade, absorbing the full impact of the blast with his body. This selfless action saved the lives of the three Marines nearby, shielding them from the force of the explosion at the ultimate cost of his own life.

Corporal William Thomas Perkins Jr.'s heroic sacrifice is remembered as one of the most valorous actions in Marine Corps history. His courage and selflessness were later recognized with the Medal of Honor, awarded posthumously. This highest military honor commemorates his indelible legacy, symbolizing the valor, duty, and sacrifice embodied by his actions that day.