Fred Zabitosky

Born: October 27, 1942, Trenton, New Jersey
Died: January 18, 1996 (age 53), North Carolina

Fred William Zabitosky was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration - the Medal of Honor - for his actions in the Vietnam War.

What do you know about Fred Zabitosky?  Try this quick quiz.

1. Zabitosky joined the Army from his birth city of Trenton, New Jersey, and on February 19, 1968 was serving with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne). What was his rank?

• Staff Sergeant
• Corporal
• Master Sergeant

2. What was his duties on February 19, 1968 with a 9-man Special Forces long-range reconnaissance patrol?

• Assistant team leader
• Unit commander
• Point gunner

3. Zabitosky's patrol was operating deep within enemy-controlled territory when they were attacked by a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army unit.

• Fact or Myth?

4. Zabitosky rallied his team members, deployed them into defensive positions, and, exposing himself to concentrated enemy automatic weapons fire, directed their return fire. Realizing the gravity of the situation, he ordered his patrol to move to a while he covered their withdrawal with rifle fire and grenades. Where did he order his men to withdrawal to?

• Mountain hilltop
• Landing zone
• Base camp

5. Rejoining the patrol under increasing enemy pressure, he positioned each man in a tight perimeter defense and continually moved from man to man, encouraging them and controlling their defensive fire. Due to his example, the outnumbered patrol maintained its precarious position until the arrival of tactical air support and a helicopter extraction team.

• Fact or Myth?

6. As the rescue helicopters arrived, the determined North Vietnamese pressed their attack. What did Zabitosky do to adjust suppressive helicopter gunship fire around the landing zone?

• Repeatedly exposed himself to their fire
• Repeatedly attacked the enemy positions
• Called for more reinforcements

7. After boarding 1 of the rescue helicopters, he positioned himself in the door delivering fire on the enemy as the ship took off. The helicopter was engulfed in a hail of bullets and Zabitosky was thrown from the craft as it spun out of control and crashed. What happened to him after hitting the ground?

• Captured by enemy troops
• Broke his legs
• Lost consciousness

8. Heedless of the danger of exploding ordnance and fuel, he pulled the severely wounded pilot from the searing blaze and made repeated attempts to rescue his patrol members but was driven back by the intense heat. Despite his serious burns and crushed ribs, he carried and dragged the unconscious pilot through a curtain of enemy fire to within 10 feet of a hovering rescue helicopter before collapsing.

• Fact or Myth?

9. Where did Zabitosky's action happen?

• South Vietnam
• North Vietnam
• Laos

Where is Fred Zabitosky buried?

Fred Zabitosky Answers

1. Staff Sergeant

2. Assistant team leader

3. Fact

4. Landing zone

5. Fact

6. Repeatedly exposed himself to their fire

7. Lost consciousness

8. Fact

9. Laos