Staff Sergeant Gordon Yntema's Medal of Honor Sacrifice

Oct 06 , 2025

Staff Sergeant Gordon Yntema's Medal of Honor Sacrifice

Fire rained down. A grenade rolled inches from a dozen huddled men. Gordon Yntema didn’t hesitate.

He bore down, a human shield, bearing the blast so others could live. In that split second, he chose brothers over himself—etched forever in mud, blood, and memory.

Background & Faith

Gordon Douglas Yntema was born in Wyoming, a heartland kid forged by midwestern grit and a quiet, stubborn faith. Raised in a family where honor ran deeper than water, he carried the weight of responsibility like a shield.

A devout Christian, Yntema’s compass was steady, grounded in scripture and an unyielding sense of duty. He didn’t just believe in fighting the enemy; he believed in fighting for something greater.

Before the uniform, there was a promise—a promise to walk straight and carry the burden of sacrifice without complaint. Every step of his journey hummed with this code.

The Battle That Defined Him

April 21, 1968. Near An Lộc, South Vietnam. The air thick with smoke and bullets, Yntema’s unit found themselves pinned down and outgunned. The enemy poured in, relentless and merciless.

When a Viet Cong grenade landed amidst closing comrades, time froze. Without thought, Yntema threw himself on top of the grenade, absorbing the blast meant to end several lives.

His right forearm was shattered, but he forced himself to keep fighting.

Outnumbered and wounded, he refused to yield. Armed with just a pistol after losing all but one hand, he battled waves of enemy soldiers in a desperate, savage defense.

His actions bought crucial minutes. His will bent but never broke. When he finally succumbed, it was in the line of fire, desperately covering the retreat of his men.

This was no reckless sacrifice—this was the heartbeat of soldier’s valor, raw and unfiltered.

Recognition

For his selfless heroism, Staff Sergeant Gordon D. Yntema received the Medal of Honor posthumously—the nation’s highest tribute to courage under fire. The citation tells a story of defiance and sacrifice few can fathom, honored by the words of his commanders and comrades.

“His actions saved the lives of many and inspired us all to fight harder.” — Lieutenant Colonel James E. Briggs¹

His story is carved into the annals of the 5th Special Forces Group history, a beacon for those who came after.

His Medal of Honor citation reads:

“With complete disregard for his safety, he hurled himself upon an enemy grenade and absorbed its blast, staggering to his feet still fighting… The extraordinary heroism displayed by Staff Sergeant Yntema reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.”²

Legacy & Lessons

Gordon Yntema’s sacrifice presses on— a relentless echo for warriors and civilians alike.

Sacrifice is never convenient. It is the hard road walked without guarantee or glory.

He reminds us how fleeting life is beneath the storm of gunfire, and how divine strength can rise in broken flesh. No man fights alone when faith fills his spine.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13

His scars became stories, his story became a testament—to courage, to brotherhood, and to a faith unshaken by war’s darkest fires.

For every veteran who has faced impossible odds, Yntema’s life whispers a vow: to stand, to serve, to sacrifice—even when the price is everything.

And for those who watch from the shore, his legacy demands this truth: freedom is guarded by those who bleed silently, heroically, without fanfare.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients—Vietnam War 2. Department of Defense, Staff Sergeant Gordon D. Yntema Medal of Honor Citation