CORPORAL
WILLIAM D. MORGAN, USMC (DECEASED) 

 

Medal of Honor Citation

William D. Morgan, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism during February 1969 in Vietnam, was born 17 September 1947, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He completed Mount Lebanon Elementary, Jr. High, and High Schools there in 1962 and 1966, respectively. He then attended Hiram Scott College, Scotts Bluff, Nebraska, for six months.

Enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, in Pittsburgh on 18 November 1966, he was discharged 4 January 1967, to enlist in the Regular Marine Corps.

Upon completion of recruit training with the 3d Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, in March 1967, he was transferred to Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he completed individual combat training with Company D, 1st Infantry Battalion, 1st Infantry Training Regiment, in April.

From May until June 1967, he was a student at the Sea School, Marine Barracks, U.S. Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia. He was promoted to private first class, 1 June 1967, and to lance corporal, 1 February 1968.

Lance Corporal Morgan served a one year tour of sea duty with the Marine Detachment aboard the USS Newport News (CA-148).

In July 1968, he was transferred to the Republic of Vietnam. He served as a rifleman, fire team leader, and squad leader, with Company H, 2d Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division. He was promoted to corporal, 1 September 1968. While participating in Operation Dewey Canyon, southeast of Vandegrift Combat Base on 25 February 1969, he was killed in action.

A complete list of his medals and decorations includes: the Medal of Honor, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Vietnam War 1965-1973 Medal of Honor