Medal of Honor Monday: Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Marvin G. Shields

View Online Medal of Honor Monday: Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Marvin G. Shields April 27, 2026 | By David Vergun Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Marvin G. Shields has the distinction of being the only Seabee to ever be awarded the Medal of Honor. He was born Dec. 30, 1939, in Port Townsend, Washington, and joined the Navy Jan. 8, 1962. He wanted to be a Seabee, construction mechanic, as he was good with his hands and liked the outdoors, having worked for a gold mining company in Hyder, Alaska, in 1958, just after high school. On Nov. 1, 1964, he was assigned to Seabee Team 1104, Naval Construction Battalion 11, which consisted of eight enlisted service members and one officer. Shields and his team deployed to Saigon, South Vietnam, Feb. 1, 1965, and were later assigned to a newly established Army Special Forces camp at Dong Xoai, about 55 miles northwest of Saigon, arriving June 4, 1965, to assist in repair and construction. On the night of June 9, 1965, the camp was bombed and attacked by approximately 2,000 Vietcong soldiers. Besides the Seabees, the camp was manned by only 11 Green Berets and about 200 South Vietnamese soldiers. By morning, the camp was overrun.   After being wounded by mortar fire, Shields fought alongside the Green Berets against the enemy, carrying ammunition to the firing line positions. Although wounded again by shrapnel and shot in the jaw, he helped a soldier and a Seabee carry a badly wounded special forces captain in charge of the camp to a safer position. According to his Medal of Honor citation, Shields continued to resupply his fellow Americans with needed ammunition and returned enemy fire for approximately three hours. At that time, the Vietcong launched a massive attack at close range with flamethrowers, hand grenades and small-arms fire. Wounded a second time during this attack, Shields helped carry a critically wounded man to safety and then resumed firing at the enemy for four more hours. When the commander asked for a volunteer to accompany him in an attempt to knock out an enemy machine-gun emplacement, Shields unhesitatingly volunteered for this extremely hazardous mission.   Proceeding toward their objective with a rocket launcher, they succeeded in destroying the enemy machine-gun emplacement and saved the lives of many of their fellow servicemen. However, Shields was mortally wounded by hostile fire while returning to his defensive position and died June 10, 1965.    Two Seabees, Shields and Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class William C. Hoover lost their lives, and seven other Seabees were wounded in the battle. Three Green Berets were also killed, and many South Vietnamese soldiers were killed or wounded. President Lyndon B. Johnson posthumously awarded Shields the Medal of Honor and presented it to his family Sept. 13, 1966. Shields is buried in Gardiner Cemetery in Gardiner, Washington, and his medal is displayed at the Seabee Museum and Memorial Park in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. Shields' heroics during the Vietnam War continue to be appreciated. On Veterans Day in 2019, more than 100 service members, veterans and guests gathered at Gardiner Cemetery to honor him. "It's a tremendous honor for Naval Facilities and Engineering Command Northwest to host this event every year," said Navy Capt. Chad Brooks, NAVFAC Northwest commanding officer. "We have great support from other units in the area, and it's a privilege every year to celebrate the Shields family and the Seabee community."  "Of all of the opportunities I've had to share my thoughts at different events and ceremonies, being here today is by far the most humbling," said retired Navy Master Chief Petty Officer Doug Heiner, NAVFAC Northwest employee. "His Medal of Honor citation is the basis of legend and is retold every year as Seabee chief selectees are charged to keep our heritage alive." The event included the placement of a Medal of Honor flower box on Shields' grave, as well as a 21-gun salute.    "Today was exceptionally moving and exceptionally thoughtful, and I'm very grateful for the Seabee family that continues to make this day very special for me and my family," said Joan Bennett-Shields, Marvin Shields' widow. "We couldn't do this without them."    Camp Shields, a Seabee base in Okinawa, Japan, and the frigate USS Marvin Shields were named in his honor. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Ryan Batchelder contributed to this article. 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.  Spotlight: Medal of Honor   Experience: The Highest Awards for Valor

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Today in DOW: April 25, 2026

Today in DOW: April 25, 2026 Open Press Events Secretary of War The secretary has no public or media events on his schedule.   Read More > Deputy Secretary of War The deputy secretary has no public or media events on his schedule.   Read More > Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff The chairman has no public or media events on his schedule.   Read More > Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff The vice chairman has no public or media events on his schedule.   Read More > Additional Open Press Events   Read More > View All Postings   Contacts Additions and corrections for Today in DOW are invited and should be directed to the press desk by calling +1 (703) 697-5131 or +1 (703) 697-5132. For additional media information click here. Public Inquiries Contact us for more information, if you have questions or for technical support. Media Questions News media representatives with questions for the Department of War may reach our press desk by calling +1 (703) 697-5131. Duty Officer A public affairs duty officer is available 24 hours a day through +1 (703) 697-5131.

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Today in DOW: April 27, 2026

Today in DOW: April 27, 2026 Open Press Events Secretary of War The secretary has no public or media events on his schedule.   Read More > Deputy Secretary of War The deputy secretary has no public or media events on his schedule.   Read More > Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff The chairman has no public or media events on his schedule.   Read More > Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff The vice chairman has no public or media events on his schedule.   Read More > Additional Open Press Events Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy, the Hon. Marc J. Berkowitz; Direct Reporting Program Manager, Golden Dome for America, Gen. Michael A. Guetlein, USSF; Director, Missile...   Read More > View All Postings   Contacts Additions and corrections for Today in DOW are invited and should be directed to the press desk by calling +1 (703) 697-5131 or +1 (703) 697-5132. For additional media information click here. Public Inquiries Contact us for more information, if you have questions or for technical support. Media Questions News media representatives with questions for the Department of War may reach our press desk by calling +1 (703) 697-5131. Duty Officer A public affairs duty officer is available 24 hours a day through +1 (703) 697-5131.

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Media Invitation Announced for United States v. Khalid Shaikh Mohammad et al. Pre-Trial Hearing

View Online IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Invitation Announced for United States v. Khalid Shaikh Mohammad et al. Pre-Trial Hearing April 24, 2026 The Department of War invites media to cover pre-trial proceedings in the case of United States v. Khalid Shaikh Mohammad, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarek Bin 'Attash, Ali Abdul Aziz Ali, and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi, scheduled for July 13-31, 2026. The defendants are charged in connection with their alleged roles in the September 11, 2001 attacks against the United States. The proceedings will be conducted at the Expeditionary Legal Complex located in Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (NSGB) Cuba and will be transmitted to a closed-circuit television site at Ft. Meade, Md. Media choosing to travel to NSGB will pay round-trip airfare ($800); coverage windows are determined by flight schedule. Specific ground rules for coverage at NSGB will follow registration. The primary purpose of this invitation is to cover the military commissions. Tours of the detention facilities are not available. Requests for reporting on Guantanamo Bay topics unrelated to the military commissions - such as the naval base facilities or personnel - must be coordinated in advance. Coverage windows, including travel days: July 11 - 18 July 18 - 25 July 25 – August 1 Registration: Click here for registration. Please select the "Khalid Shaikh Mohammad et al" case from the drop-down selection on the registration form. Enter the specific dates requested as outlined above. Deadline: All requests must be received no later than noon Friday, May 1. Additional details of travel logistics will be provided separately. By submitting the online request form, interested media will begin the travel process, and the Office of Military Commissions (OMC) will contact the media to assist in travel preparation. CCTV Site: Media desiring to view this hearing from the media-designated viewing site at Fort Meade, Md., must send requests via email to osd.mc-alex.OMC.mbx.omc-pa@mail.mil with e-mail subject line matching the court case and the following information: name, position, news organization and contact information. Contact Mr. Ron Flesvig, OMC Public Affairs, for additional questions at ronald.flesvig2.civ@mail.mil or (571) 372-3713. Case information can be viewed at the Office of Military Commissions website: https://www.mc.mil

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