Memorial Day Guest Speaker — 2010

Command Sergeant Major Gary Littrell
United States Army, Retired
Medal of Honor

Gary Littrell was born in 1944 in Henderson, Kentucky.? Gary grew up in the Spottsville area.? Gary entered the United States Army in the 1961.? Gary and his wife now reside in Bradenton, Florida where he is spends most of his spare time deep sea fishing.

Between April 4 and April 8, 1970, while serving on Advisory Team 21 of I Corps Advisory Group, in Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam, Sergeant First Class Littrell was a Light Weapons Infantry Advisor with the 23rd Battalion, 2nd Ranger Group.? The battalion was under intense mortar attack ? all advisors, except Littrell were killed.? Unrelentingly, over four days, Littrell kept the battalion inspired, while he directed artillery and air support, distributed ammunition, strengthened faltering defenses, cared for the wounded, and shouted encouragement to the Vietnamese in their own language.? For his ?sustained extraordinary courage and selflessness?, SFC Littrell was awarded the Medal of Honor.

In 1993, Littrell was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame, which serves to ?honor and preserve the contributions of the most extraordinary U.S. Rangers in American history, to identify and highlight individuals as role models for current Rangers, and to educate the public on the culture of the U.S. Army Rangers.