February 22 Wesley Fox Medal of Honor

Marine Captain Wesley Fox earned the Medal of Honor for his leadership as a company commander in Vietnam, when he skillfully led his unit in action despite being twice wounded. Fox knocked out one North Vietnamese bunker out personally, then coordinated his company’s attack on a second bunker. He called in air strikes and exposed himself to enemy fire, pressing the attack until the NVA fled. Honor and remember him!

Fox served as a rifleman in the Korean War, where he was promoted to Corporal, was wounded in action and received the Bronze Star with Combat “V”. He stayed in the Corps, working as a recruiter and then serving as a platoon sergeant in 1st Force Reconnaissance Company, among other posts, and achieving First Sergeant. In 1966, he was commissioned and became a platoon commander in Force Recon.

Before taking command of A/1/9, Fox had been the advisor and executive officer of a South Vietnamese Marine battalion. He received the Medal of Honor from President Nixon in 1971.

Fox retired from the Marine Corps in 1993 and his last posting was as commanding officer of Officer Candidate School, where he made a deep and lasting impression on a generation of Marine Corps officers. After retirement, he was the commandant of cadets at Virginia Tech. He passed in 2017 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Semper Fidelis, Colonel Fox.