Edward Allen DeVore, Jr.

Specialist 4 Edward A. DeVore, Jr., was born 15 June 1947 in Henryetta, Oklahoma. His father worked for the Eagle-Picher smelter. When DeVore was about 4 years old, his father moved the family to California, but DeVore kept in contact with his Henryetta relatives and visited his hometown.

DeVore joined the Army in 1966 in California and later was sent to Vietnam where he was assigned to Company B, 4th Battalion, 39th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. On 17 March 1968, while his platoon was leading the company in a reconnaissance mission in the swampy areas of the Mekong Delta south of Saigon, they came under heavy enemy fire from automatic weapons, mines, rockets and grenades from concealed bunkers. After one man was killed and three wounded, DeVore, carrying an M60 machine gun, began laying down covering fire to establish a fire base to help the unit. A squad member went to retrieve fallen comrades but was hit by intense enemy automatic weapons fire. With complete disregard for his personal safety, DeVore assaulted the enemy positions. He was hit in the shoulder and knocked down but, despite warnings from his fellow soldiers, he jumped up to continue his assault under intense hostile fire. Although mortally wounded during this advance, he continued to place highly accurate suppressive fire upon the entrenched insurgents. By drawing the enemy fire upon himself, DeVore enabled the trapped squad members to rejoin the platoon in safety. DeVore died soon after and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions and sacrifice.

Specialist 4 DeVore is buried in San Pedro, California, and he is recognized on a plaque in his hometown of Henryetta, Oklahoma.