Citation of Soldier's Medal Award Given to Harold E. Caldwell

This citation from the United States Army announces the award of the Soldier’s Medal to Harold E. Caldwell, Captain Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army Company A, 8th Engineer Battalion, for his heroism on June 6, 1967 in Vietnam. The award describes Caldwell’s actions while serving as commanding officer of his company on a landing zone near Bồng Sơn, Vietnam. The ammunition and fuel storage areas caught fire and exploded, and Caldwell ordered personnel to return to the protection of their bunkers, and organized and directed a fire-fighting team until the fire was extinguished. As noted in the citation, “His decisions to relocate the demolitions out of the area, as well as his action in directing and assisting the fire-fighting team were instrumental in putting out the fire and saving the lives of his men, although the entire area was constantly showered with shrapnel from the exploding ammunition.”

A Worthington native, Harold Caldwell entered West Point Military Academy in 1959, graduating in 1963. According to his obituary, he “was commissioned as 2nd Lt., United States Army. He served our country throughout the Vietnam War and continued his military career until 1978. Major Caldwell was a Master Parachutist. He served as an Industrial Engineer with the military contractor, Lockheed Martin in Uniondale, Long Island for thirty years, retiring in 2008.”

In addition to the Soldier’s Medal, Caldwell was awarded the Bronze Star three times. Officially, it is one award of the Bronze Star and Two Oak Leaf Clusters, with each Oak Leaf Cluster representing an additional award.