Grant, Joseph Xavier

...CITATION...

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life
above and beyond the call of duty.  Company A was participating in a search
and destroy operation when the leading platoon made contact with the enemy
and a fierce fire-fight ensued.  Capt. Grant was ordered to disengage the 2
remaining platoons and to maneuver them to envelop and destroy the enemy.
  After beginning their movement, the platoons encountered intense enemy
automatic weapons and mortar fire fromthe front and flank.  Capt. Grant was
ordered to deploy the platoons in a defensive position.   As this action was
 underway, the enemy attacked, using "human wave'' assaults, in an attempt to
literally overwhelm Capt. Grant's force.  In a magnificent display of courage and
leadership, Capt. Grant moved under intense fire along the hastily formed
defensive line repositioningsoldiers to fill gaps created by the mounting casualties
 and inspiring and directing the efforts of his men to successfully repel the
determined enemy onslaught. Seeing a platoon leader wounded, Capt. Grant
 hastened to his aid, in the face of the mass of fire of the entire enemy force,
and moved him to a more secure position.During this action, Capt. Grant was
wounded in the shoulder.  Refusing medicaltreatment, he returned to the
forward part of the perimeter, where he continued to lead and to inspire his
men by his own indomitable example.  While attempting to evacuate a wounded
 soldier, he was pinned down by fire from an enemy machinegun.  With a supply
 of hand grenades, he crawled forward under a withering hail of fire and knocked
out the machinegun, killing the crew, after which he moved the wounded man to
safety.  Learning that several other wounded men were pinned down by enemy
fire forward of his position, Capt. Grant disregarded his painful wound and led
 5 men across the fire-swept open ground to effect a rescue.  Following return of
the wounded men to the perimeter, a concentration of mortar fire landed in their
midst and Capt. Grant was killed instantly.  His heroic actions saved the lives
of a number of his comrades and enabled the task force to repulse the vicious
assaults and defeat the enemy.  Capt. Grant's actions reflect great credit upon
 himself and were in keeping with the finest traditions of the U.S. Army.