The President of the United States,
in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting
the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to:
LANCE CORPORAL ROY M. WHEAT
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
for service as set forth in the following
CITATION:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a fire team leader with the
First Platoon, Company K, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division, in the Republic of Vietnam. On 11 August 1967, Corporal Wheat
and two other Marines were assigned the mission of providing security for a Navy construction battalion crane and crew operating along Liberty Road
in the vicinity of the Dien Ban District, Quang Nam Province. After the Marines had set up security positions in a tree line adjacent to the work site,
Corporal Wheat reconnoitered the area to the rear of their location for the the possible presence of guerrillas. He then returned to within ten feet of the
friendly position, and here unintentionally triggered a well concealed, bounding type, antipersonnel mine. Immediately, a hissing sound was heard
which was identified by the three Marines as that of a burning time fuse. Shouting a warning to his comrades, Corporal Wheat in a valiant act of
heroism hurled himself upon the mine, absorbing the tremendous impact of the explosion with his own body. The inspirational personal heroism and
extraordinary valor of his unselfish action saved his fellow Marines from certain injury and possible death, reflected great credit upon himself, and
upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave life for his country .
/S/ LYNDON B. JOHNSON