SgtMaj Kenneth E. Stumpf was a Vietnam War hero who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions near Duc PHo on April 25, 1967. He passed away on April 23, 2022 in Tomah, Wisconsin at the age of 77.
The Army family is saddened to hear of the passing of Kenneth E. Stumpf, #MedalOfHonor recipient. He was 77.
— U.S. Army (@USArmy) April 25, 2022
For his actions on April 25, 1967 during the Vietnam War, he was presented the Medal Of Honor by President Lyndon B. Johnson on Sept. 19, 1968. #ServeWithHonor @25thID pic.twitter.com/UeCWH6zjBM
“I’ve always said I didn’t do anything above and beyond the call of duty. What I did was my duty. I had to do that… it was a responsibility that I had to my men.” Kenneth Stumpf
Kenneth Stumpf served in the US Army for 29 years. As a Squad leader for the 3d Platoon, Company C in 1967, they were tasked with taking out an enemy bunker complex. His MOH citation reads in part:
As S/Sgt. Stumpf’s company approached a village, it encountered a North Vietnamese rifle company occupying a well-fortified bunker complex. During the initial contact, three men from his squad fell wounded in front of a hostile machine-gun emplacement. The enemy’s heavy volume of fire prevented the unit from moving to the aid of the injured men, but S/Sgt. Stumpf left his secure position in a deep trench and ran through the barrage of incoming rounds to reach his wounded comrades. He picked up one of the men and carried him back to the safety of the trench. Twice more S/Sgt. Stumpf dashed forward while the enemy turned automatic weapons and machine guns upon him, yet he managed to rescue the remaining two wounded squad members. He then organized his squad and led an assault against several enemy bunkers from which continuously heavy fire was being received. He and his squad successfully eliminated two of the bunker positions, but one to the front of the advancing platoon remained a serious threat.
Arming himself with extra hand grenades, S/Sgt. Stumpf ran over open ground, through a volley of fire directed at him by a determined enemy, toward the machine-gun position. As he reached the bunker, he threw a hand grenade through the aperture. It was immediately returned by the occupants, forcing S/Sgt. Stumpf to take cover. Undaunted, he pulled the pins on two more grenades, held them for a few seconds after activation, then hurled them into the position, this time successfully destroying the emplacement. With the elimination of this key position, his unit was able to assault and overrun the enemy.
S/Sgt. Stumpf’s relentless spirit of aggressiveness, intrepidity, and ultimate concern for the lives of his men, are in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.
Medal of Honor Citation, Kenneth E. Stumpf
America lost another true American hero this week with the passing of Sgt. Maj. (Retired) and Medal of Honor recipient, Kenneth Stumpf. pic.twitter.com/Sd5hJbj2W7
— GEN James C. McConville (@ArmyChiefStaff) April 25, 2022
We join the nation in mourning the passing of Kenneth Stumpf, Medal of Honor recipient, on 4/23. We had the honor & privilege of bringing some joy into his life during our MIL Super Bowl Legacy Projects. Ken received the MoH in 1968 for his heroic actions in Vietnam on 4/25, 1967 pic.twitter.com/yL1wnkPhe6
— MoH Twin Cities (@MOHTwinCities) April 25, 2022
Today we mourn the loss of recipient Kenneth E. Stumpf, who passed away this weekend, two days shy of the 55th anniversary of his #MedalofHonor action. With this great loss there are now only 65 living recipients. Read more about Stumpf’s life below:
— National Medal Of Honor Museum (@MohMuseum) April 25, 2022
https://t.co/u8jt1HjrwE pic.twitter.com/JyXQynboXk
It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Medal of Honor Recipient Kenneth E. Stumpf. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time. Read about him here: https://t.co/xu9CEWkMfn pic.twitter.com/mhCWgqci9u
— Congressional Medal of Honor Society (@CMOH_Society) April 25, 2022
There are only 65 living Medal of Honor recipients remaining. 261 Medals of Honor were awarded from the Vietnam War alone. Rest in Peace, SgtMaj Kenneth Stumpf!
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Featured screenshot Sergeant Major Kenneth Stumpf
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