Remembering Michael Robert Mangan on his birthday -- Distinguished Service Cross, Died in Vietnam

Today would be the 70^th birthday of Army Specialist Fourth Class Michael Robert Mangan who was killed in action in Vietnam at age 23 on August 21, 1968. For his gallantry that day, he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, our Nation’s second highest military award next to the Medal of Honor. 

He was one of 19 men who died during a battle at the Ben Cui rubber plantation. Specialist Mangan was serving with Company C, 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 5th Infantry, 2d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. His home of record was Costa Mesa, California, and he was single.

Although it’s been nearly 50 years since he died, Specialist Mangan is not forgotten. His sister, Nancy Mangan-Bushell, wrote this tribute to him on an online wall in 2012.

Remembering you, little brother.....I am so proud of you! Just know I think of you often and have a little shrine of you with pictures, medals and Wall memorabilia in my office right next to my desk. I get calls from some of your pals, who remember what an extraordinary young man you were. I miss you little brother and want you to know how proud I am of you. You will be forever in my heart!

Her message and tributes from others, photos of Specialist Mangan, and other information can be found online at http://thewall-usa.com/guest.asp?recid=32161 and also at http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=49875392. 

Specialist Mangan is buried at Pacific View Memorial Park, Corona del Mar, Orange County, California. Here is his Distinguished Service Cross citation:

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Michael Robert Mangan (US56703895), Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company C, 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 5th Infantry, 2d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. Specialist Four Mangan distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 21 August 1968 while serving with a mechanized infantry company combating a large enemy force in the Ben Cui rubber plantation. The communists began a human wave assault. Specialist Mangan maneuvered his armored personnel carrier into a position from which it could deliver the most effective firepower and began firing his light anti-tank weapon into the charging enemy. Constantly exposed to the intense hostile fusillade, he continued firing until ordered to withdraw. As he maneuvered his assault vehicle into a defensive position, it was struck by an enemy rocket which caused it to burst into flames. Specialist Mangan again exposed himself to the communist's barrage to extinguish the fire and was wounded in the arm. The vehicle was then struck by a mortar round. Finding the carrier inoperative, he ran to another assault vehicle to assist its machinegunner in delivering suppressive fire on the enemy. When the gunner had expended his ammunition, Specialist Mangan ran through a hail of bullets to obtain a resupply from his demobilized track. As he climbed into the vehicle it was struck by a rocket, knocking him to the ground. Struggling to his feet, he picked up the vital ammunition and returned it to the machine gunner's position. While handing the resupply to his comrade, he was mortally wounded. Specialist Four Mangan's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.