Milton Lee Olive III | |
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Born | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | November 7, 1946
Died | October 22, 1965 Phu Cuong, South Vietnam | (aged 18)
Place of burial | West Grove Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, Lexington, Mississippi |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service | United States Army |
Years of service | 1964–1965 |
Rank | Private First Class |
Unit | Company B, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade |
Battles / wars | Vietnam War † |
Awards | Medal of Honor Purple Heart |
Milton Lee Olive III (November 7, 1946 – October 22, 1965) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of America's highest military decoration — the Medal of Honor — for his heroic action in the Vietnam War when at the age of 18, Olive sacrificed his life to save others by falling on a grenade. In so doing so he became the first African-American recipient of the Medal of Honor from the Vietnam War.