Allen Ross Culpepper

Allen Ross Culpepper


Allen Ross Culpepper
Nickname(s) Panther
Born (1944-07-21)July 21, 1944
Tuskegee, Alabama
Reared in Minden
Webster Parish, Louisiana
Died May 18, 1969(1969-05-18) (aged 24) 
Long Khanh province, Republic of Vietnam
Buried at Allegany Cemetery in Allegany, New York
Allegiance United States United States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service 1966–1969
Rank Captain, USA
Unit 7th Battalion, 9th Artillery, 54th Artillery Group
Commands held C Battery, 7-9 Artillery
105mm howitzer battery at Fire Support Base Husky
Battles/wars Xuan Loc, Vietnam War
Awards Bronze Star
Purple Heart
Distinguished Service Cross
Relations Nancy (wife)
Rebecca (daughter)
Steve C. Culpepper (father)
Marjorie Stephens Culpepper (mother; c. 1921-2015)
Douglas Orville Culpepper (brother)

Allen Ross Culpepper (July 21, 1944 May 18, 1969), was a United States Army captain in the Vietnam War.[1] He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Class of 1966, and was posthumously presented the Distinguished Service Cross[2]

Citation

Presented posthumously for actions during the Vietnam War.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Captain (Field Artillery) Allen Ross Culpepper, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Battery C, 7th Battalion, 9th Artillery, 54th Field Artillery Group. Captain Culpepper distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 18 May 1969 while serving as commander of a 105 millimeter howitzer battery. Soon after midnight a Viet Cong force launched a mortar and rocket attack, followed by a ground assault on the perimeter. Without hesitation, Captain Culpepper moved through the battery area to organize his troops. He quickly deployed a reaction force and directed the retaliatory fusillade of his men. When one of the howitzer emplacements was struck by rocket-propelled grenade fire wounding the section members, Captain Culpepper immediately proceeded to the damaged gun section to assist in removing the casualties. As he left his vehicle and heroically ran through the hostile barrage toward a wounded soldier, he was fatally wounded by enemy fire. Captain Culpepper'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.

—Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam
General Orders No. 2949 (August 4, 1969)[2]

Captain Allen Culpepper plaque at Veteran's Monument on Turner's Pond in Minden, Louisiana

References

  1. James Gulledge, "A Hero Remembered," Minden Press-Herald, November 11, 2011, p. 1
  2. 1 2 Military Times, Hall of Valor. "Valor awards for Allen Ross Culpepper". Gannett Government Media Corporation. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
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