Vietnam War Memorial, Ouachita County Courthouse, Camden, AR, USA
N 33° 35.062 W 092° 49.800
15S E 515774 N 3716085
This memorial plaque honors PFC Artis Breeland, US Army, for his valorous service in Vietnam at the Ouachita County Courthouse in downtown Camden AR.
Waymark Code: WMX10Z
Location: Arkansas, United States
Date Posted: 11/10/2017
Views: 1
This specific veteran memorial is located on the south side of the Ouachita County Courthouse along Jackson Street SW in downtown Camden. It is one of over a dozen veteran and war memorials installed at this courthouse.
The memorial reads as follows:
"Headquarters
United States Army Vietnam
General Orders
Number 2634
5 June 1967
AWARD OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS
BRELAND, ARTIS JR., RA18711229 PRIVATE FIRST CLASS E3
United States Army, Company A, 39th Engineering Battalion (Combat)
Awarded: Distinguished Service Cross
Date Action: 31 March 1967
Theater: Republic of Vietnam
Reason: For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam: Private First Class Breland distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions and 31 March 1967 while serving as machine gunner during a Viet Cong ambush in hostile territory.
Private Breland was selected, with 6 other men, to flank and counterattack a Viet Cong squad which ambushed his platoon. To reach the insurgent element, he was forced to crawl 200 meters through exposed areas of a rice paddy. Private Breland suppressed the hostile weapons with a tremendous burst of fire while the rest of his patrol ran across the road, then he jumped up and ran to join his comrades. In the outburst of enemy fire, he was hit in the helmet and knocked to the ground, dazed. He recovered in moments, grabbed his helmet, and succeeded in reaching the patrol, although enemy bullets tore up the ground along his path.
Private Breland laid down the base of covering fire while his squad members made the next advance and then ran to join them, but was hit by a Viet Cong bullet in the right leg and fell to the ground. Disregarding his exposed position and the hostile shells striking all around him, he poured a stream of fire into the enemy emplacements until the insurgents were silenced. Taking no heed of his wound, Pprivate Breland ran to join his squad and again prepare for further assaults. When told to give the machine gun to another soldier and report to a medic, he refused and continued to attack the Viet Cong in a highly aggressive manner until the ambush was repulsed. Private First Class Breland’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Camden A&P Commission
2008"
Placed by:: Camden A&P Commission
Date Placed: 01/01/2008
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