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BONG SON- Lieutenant Colonel Anthony B. Herbert assumed command of the 2nd Battalion, 503d Infantry during recent ceremonies at LZ English.
Colonel Herbert takes over from LTC John W. Nicholson, who commanded the Battalion since August. Prior to his new assignment, Colonel Herbert served as the Brigade's Inspector General (IG). He came to Vietnam in August.
Born in Herminie, Pa., Colonel Herbert joined the Army in 1947 and went on to distinguish himself heroically in the Korean War as a Master Sergeant, where he was wounded four times, he came out of the war as the U.S. Army's most decorated enlisted man. In addition to the Purple Heart with 3 Oak Leaf clusters, Colonel Herbert has been decorated with the Silver Star, two Oak Leaf clusters, the Bronze Star with V, Soldier's Medal, Army Commendation Medal with 2 Oak Leaf clusters and and he is the only non-Turk in the world to receive the coveted Turkish Ozanu. He has also earned the Combat Infantryman's Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Jump Wings from the German and British Armies, Pathfinder's Badge and Ranger Tab.
Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1957, Colonel Herbert's colorful career has taken him to Japan,. Korea, Alaska, Iceland, the Azores, Canada, Saudi Arabia, 51 African Nations and across Europe. He is a qualified interpreter in Portuguese. After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh in 1956, the 38-year old Lieutenant Colonel went on to earn a Masters Degree and PHD from the University of Georgia in Psychology.
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August 14, 2008
mickmck707
20 responses to “LT.COL. ANTHONY HERBERT-MOST DECORATED SOLDIER IN VIETNAM WAR”
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Dan Saver, BA
February 8th, 2010 at 21:33
I read ‘Soldier’ when I was in university in Ottawa. I liked the book and I like the man.
Jim Brongiel
February 9th, 2010 at 04:12
I read the book “soldier” and I would think that the army would have made this man a general. I would have been honored to have servered with him in Viet Nam. The book is must read for all veterans of any era. I would like to meet him some day and again would be honored to have Colonel Herbert sign my book. I will treasure the experience of reading Soldier for ever. Amazing person!! An american icon and hero!!
Anonymous
June 7th, 2010 at 01:11
sweet
W. Loescher
December 15th, 2010 at 03:59
Was proud to serve under the Lt. Col. when he was Prof. Military Science at the Univ. of Georgia.
John
March 5th, 2011 at 17:53
How do you figure calling him “MOST DECORATED SOLDIER IN VIETNAM WAR”?
Not even close by however you want to calculate it. Now he was identified as the most decorated enlisted man in the Korean War for publicity purposes, but Vietnam? Makes no sense.
JF Cavener
April 8th, 2011 at 07:58
LTC Herbert was my Bn Commander. I was with Bravo 2nd of the 503rd on LZ English in 1969. I was there when he took command of the Bn. This man was an outstanding leader.
Under him we owned the night and we gained the respect of the opposing NVA forces.
During March of 1969 our teams were greatly effective against the enemy with anastounding minimum number of casualties. I left Nam in September of 1969.The team I was leading was caught in a ambush by 30 – 35 NVA. We effectively countered the ambush. I was the only friendly casualty. I was shot in the abdomen by an NVA using an AK-47. I returned fire killing that individual NVA soldier, and continued to direct the fire of my team uintil help arrived.
I owe my survival to the training and inspiration that LTC Herbert provided throughout his tenure on LZ English. He had the foresight and courage to lead his command as a true commander. His boots were on the ground side by side with his men.
He was one of the best.
Airborne…out!
Nile Kolman "B" 3/503
July 2nd, 2011 at 04:22
Colonel Herbert was run out of the 173rd by the “RING KNOCKERS” (class ring) from West Point!! He was a better strategist, soldier and human being. The boys from the Point tried to have him courts-martialed using trumped up bullshit charges. A Captain Moore, CO from Bravo Company was made to dig a foxhole in front of all Bravo Company after abuse reports from soldiers, families of soldiers, and other officers as to his terrible treatment of the company. The Captain had a few ass kissers who carried his chow and ammo, and ratted out any minor misakes and/or misbehavior.
The Captain was real prick, who would not give out Purple hearts if he could not find bodies!! His philosophy was no bodies no promotions from him!! A real Tyrant, Col Herbert was IG, and would not tolerate such treatment of enlisted men and junior officers. Capt. Moore was a destructive man who ended up running into anbushes and getting unnecessary casualities. However, the Company reports were always written to make him competent and a hero!! Col. Herbert saw thru the crap , He was not just a great soldier, he was a MAN!!
If the entire Brigade used his strategy, many fellow soldiers would have been alive going home! In fact, the entire Army should have gotten rid of the West Point ‘water carryers” and had more Men with enlisted experience like Herbert. We would have really kicked ass with few dead!! In memory of Lt. Tim Porter, KIA 10/68, near Da Lat, attempting to rescue his point man!! Another tactical blunder by the commander, they walked right into it at first light, no recon, no probes, a real cluster f–k by the great Captain.
Sgt PJ
August 4th, 2011 at 00:12
I was in Alpha Company,2nd Battalion,173rd Airborne from Oct-68 to Nov-69 as the company/brigade RTO and had the privilage of meeting Col Herbert a few times when he came out to the field to talk to my Company Commander Cpt Forepaugh .I was highly impressed with him and his no BS do what we have to do to win attitude,He made the company commanders do alot of things they weren’t used to doing, Like having the CP’s ( command post ) people pull ambush everynight.He told us we work and move when the enemy is working/moving and that’s usually at night.His MO was Ambush,Ambush,Ambush.And to put out the maximun Ambush sites out every night. So we would Ambush all night and try to get some rest during the day when we weren’t doing other daytime operations and thats why we ( 2nd Batt ) had the highest body count in the brigade. Plus he cared about his men.When we would do search and destroy missions he wouldn’t just fly around over us in his C&C ship watching. He would land and get out and walk through the village with us to see how we were doing.Always willing to get involved an lead by example.I always thought of him as the “Patton” of the Vietnam War.He was a soldiers soldier, a Great Man and i would follow him anywhere.And would love to meet him again.
Anonymous
August 5th, 2011 at 23:22
I can only say that I’ve read Col Herbert’s book, but I believe every word of it & the previous soldiers’ entry’s bear it out.He’s one of my hero’s of the Vietnam War….failing in health. May God bless you , Tony. And thank you for upholding the highest ethics of the profession of arms. John J. Dalesandro
Anonymous
October 3rd, 2011 at 21:06
I first read SOLDIER in 1974 while I was struggling with my own demons following my abbreviated tour in Vietnam an a Marine platoon commander. Col. Herbert’s honorable and courageous leadership, and outspoken criticism of poor leadership and cowardice among many officers helped me get a better perspective on my own combat experience. His experiences and values as written about in SOLDIer helped me heal and helped me develop me ” survivor’s mission” as a young man. I have reread SOLDIER this week and once again been inspired by Col. Herbert’s story. I was hoping to be able to thank him for his positive inflience on me over these last forty years, and inquire how he has been doing. Sincerely, Bernard J. Monks
Anonymous
October 4th, 2011 at 01:50
I must’ve read & reread “Soldier” a dozen or so times, and his book, “The Making of a Soldier” about his Korean War, (don’t try to tell me it was a “police action”) experiences. He had a genuine heart for the peasants of the countries where he soldiered, caught in the meatgrinder-hell of war. And oh, BTW, he empathized with the soldiers on the other side, as well. I read in “Soldier”, an NVA or VC was wounded in the leg during a set-to with Col. Tony’s boys. He called his medical expert to give him what aid he could. Col. Tony asked him, “How’s the leg? Doc replied, “It comes off, but he’ll live.” As Col. Tony was leaving the medical tent, he brushed the hair out of the eyes of the wounded NVA . The enemy soldier grabbed his hand & said, in perfect English, “Thanks, Colonel”, after which Tony suddenly got a big lump in his throat, & had to clear it. This is only one of the reasons I admire him. JD
Jeff Etheredge
November 11th, 2011 at 02:33
He sounds like a great man, but how can any one possibly claim he was the most decorated soldier in the Vietnam War? It seems he is not even close…Col. Robert Howard earned CMH, DSC w/ OLC, SS, L of M, BS w/ 3OLC’s, and PH w/ 7OLC’s all earned in Vietnam. Joe Ronnie Hooper earned CMH, SS w/ OLC, BS w/ 5OLC’s, and PH w/ 7OLC’s all in Vietnam not to mention Hackworth and his DSC w/OLC and SS w/ 6OLC’s and multiple PH’s. General Barry McCaffery DSC w/OLC, SS w/OLC, L of M, BS w/ 3OLC’s, PH w/ 2OLC’s, Major General Patrick H. Brady CMH, DSC, L of M, DFC w/ 5OLC’s, BS w/OLC, PH all earned in Vietnam, Brigadier General Charles Getz DSC, SS w/ 5OLC’s, L of M, DFC w/ 2OLC’s, BS w/ 5OLC’s, PH w/ 2 OLC’s again…all earned in Vietnam…am I missing something?
Nail Kolman
November 23rd, 2011 at 13:07
I believe it was not THE VIETNAM WAR ONLY, it was also in Korea and other classified missions which he received decorations. My belief is that it was cumulative decorations. But, more important he was a soldier’s soldier. Came up through the ranks and commanded much respect by teh grunts. SPent a lot of time in the field with infantry on ambushes and patrols for morale, guidance and lessons learned!! Not like the Ring Knockers from West Point, who you could not find after three to six months in the boonies. They were just there to get decorated by their fellow classmates and make rank. Although many were good and supportive leaders, they were few!!