Gerald McGinnis Awarded Army Bronze Star with Valor
On March 22, 1968, at approximately 3:00 a.m. in the jungles of Vietnam, Specialist Gerald McGinnis demonstrated exceptional bravery holding a breach in the lines from an enemy attack.
Forty-eight years after the unforgettable night, Tennessee Church of God Administrative Bishop Mitchell Corder arranged for Pastor McGinnis to be awarded the Army Bronze Star with “V” Device for Valor medal for heroism. McGinnis was surrounded by fellow veterans of the Vietnam War during the presentation at the Church of God Tennessee Camp Meeting.
Chaplain (Colonel) Richard Pace (right) pins Pastor Gerald McGinnis with the Army Bronze Star with Valor at the recent Tennessee Camp Meeting (click photo to enlarge)
The military record of this event describes in vivid detail what Specialist McGinnis faced during what had to be one of the longest nights of his life. Records validate that a regiment of approximately 1,500 North Vietnamese soldiers attacked and broke through the perimeter of Specialist McGinnis’ compound. After the bunkers near Specialist McGinnis were destroyed, he alone was left to hold off the main assault, while protecting three wounded soldiers, from his bunker that was only ten yards from the enemy. His commander wrote, “It [the breach] made a large section of the perimeter open and susceptible to being completely overrun. Therefore, McGinnis’ bunker became vital to the success of the battle. If the bunker that McGinnis was manning had fallen to the enemy a major part of the perimeter could have fallen into the hands of the enemy. [Wounded soldiers] Shears, King and Gastelo would have been killed that morning because they had no way of defending themselves. Because of the length of the battle (3-4 hours) and the strategic place of McGinnis’ bunker, not only was he defending that side of the perimeter, but protecting all three of their lives. Throughout the morning McGinnis resisted the NVA, firing approximately 1,000 rounds from his M16, plus exploding all the claymore mines that were available to him, and throwing approximately thirty hand grenades at the enemy. That morning when the battle was over, within a few yards of McGinnis’ bunker was a large body count.”
Specialist McGinnis’ Commander, Major General Charles P. Stone made the following recommendation, “I hereby recommend that Gerald E. McGinnis receive the Bronze Star with Valor for bravery and commitment by resisting the enemy and holding his position while protecting the lives of three wounded soldiers. While two bunkers very close to him where totally destroyed and the enemy was in the process of entering the perimeter, McGinnis did not retreat or move to another bunker for security with soldiers who could assist him. Instead, he stayed in his bunker, the only one able to fight and defend this important position of the perimeter, while protecting the lives of the three wounded men.”
Pastor McGinnis is well-known as the pastor of the 2,000-member Park West Church of God in Knoxville, Tennessee. He is also known as Chaplain to the Knoxville based FBI, ATF, and Knox County Sheriff’s Department.
Chaplain (Colonel) Richard Pace of the Church of God Chaplains Commission, officiated the June 16 award ceremony, conducted at the North Cleveland Church of God, the venue of this year’s Tennessee Camp Meeting.
“It was a great honor for me to present the Bronze Star with Valor to Pastor Gerald McGinnis on the behalf of a grateful Nation,” Pace said. “Though his character has always displayed his courage, now he can officially add to his titles: American Hero!”
