User:Quincytruett

Quincy H. Truett was born in Quitman, Ga., on 3 April 1932. He enlisted in the Navy on 14 September 1951 at Jacksonville, Fla., and, during the later stages of the Korean War, saw duty in destroyers John W. Thomason (DD-760) and Floyd B. Parks (DD-884). Subsequently, he served successfully in Tulare (AKA-112), Chilton (APA-38), and Tawasa (ATF-92). From 1 August 1965 to September 1966, Truett served with the Naval Support Activity, Danang, in South Vietnam. Following a tour of duty with the Key West Test and Evaluation Detachment, he trained at the Naval Amphibious Base at Coronado, Calif., in preparation for his return to Vietnam. On 13 September 1968, Chief Boatswain's Mate Truett transferred to River Patrol Flotilla 5 and joined River Division 551.

On the night of 20 January 1969, his division was operating on the Kinh Dong Tien Canal. Truett was patrol officer for two of four river patrol boats escorting an armored troop carrier. The entire unit came under intense enemy fire, and the boat ahead of Truett's erupted in flames. When the blaze forced the patrol boat's crew into the water, Chief Truett ordered his own craft to the rescue. Seemingly oblivious to the enemy gunfire streaming at him, Chief Truett maintained a constant covering fire throughout the rescue of the crew of PER 8137. Though mortally wounded, Chief Truett continued to fight until the successful completion of the rescue. Chief Truett died of his wounds that same day. For his ". . . extraordinary heroism . . ." Chief Boatswain's Mate Truett was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.