Photographer's bravery saved many Marines' lives

Marine Cpl. William T. Perkins was a photographer in the Marine Corps.

He was sent, at his request, to Vietnam in July 1967 to Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division. Then came Operation Medina in October. It was a search for the enemy North Vietnam soldiers and destroy them in the Hai Lang National Forest. He was with Marines inserted at the edge of the forest and they proceeded into the forest.

After two days in the forest, they were attacked by the North Vietnamese Army. Many Marines were wounded so they had to bring in helicopters to evacuate the wounded. This naturally gave their positions away and attracted three more companies of NVA soldiers. 

Perkins was on the perimeter, filming the events. There was a fierce firefight going on. All of a sudden he saw a grenade coming in on their position. He yelled, "incoming grenade" and then pushed aside a fellow Marine and dove on the grenade to save his other Marines, the grenade exploded, killing Perkins. 

Later he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Honor by President Richard Nixon, the highest award for bravery that this nation has. What brings men to do this to save their fellow soldiers in an instant?

Roger Gregory is a Vietnam veteran and business owner in Priest River.