Calvin Bouknight
MONDAY, MAY 20, 2024
Calvin Bouknight, Washingtonian,
McKinley Tech Graduate, Class of 1959
and American soldier, was awarded the Silver
Star posthumously for his actions at the Battle of
Ia Drang Valley, November 14, 1965.
He lost his life after saving the lives of four other soldiers.
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Calvin Bouknight
June 23, 1941 – November 16, 1965
Specialist 5 Calvin Bouknight, a Washington DC native, graduate of
McKinley Tech High School class of 1959, was a medic for the 1st Cavalry
Division, and a conscientious objector. On November 14, 1965, his unit
landed in an area about the size of a football field and a half. The Battle of
the IA Drang Valley would be the United States' first major offensive of the
Vietnam War. Calvin’s job was to stay near 2Lt. Dennis Deal until needed,
which would prove to be sooner than expected.
The attack began in the early afternoon. The cacophonous sound of the
battle was horrendous. 2Lt. Deal imagined the sound being akin to 1,000
rounds a second. Radios were immediately tied up with situation reports.
His unit began to take casualties. The men were faced down in the grass.
While assessing the situation 2Lt. Deal literally felt “boots up my back.”. It
was Calvin. During the ferocious firefight, Calvin rushed out to attend to the
wounded soldiers. He shielded them with his body as he attended to them.
After about five minutes of heroism, Calvin was hit in the back between the
shoulders. During a lull in the battle two soldiers brought him off the field.
He talked about the intense pain, and that he was not able to feel his legs.
His wound proved to be mortal. He tried to save the lives of four soldiers at
the expense of his own.
Specialist 5 Bouknight was mentioned in LTG Hal Moore’s book “We Were
Soldiers Once and Young.” Calvin was buried in Section 38-240 at Arlington
National Cemetery. Five months later in April 1966, he was awarded the
Silver Star posthumously.
Until recently his Silver Star award was not on his headstone, but because of
the efforts of the staff at Arlington National Cemetery, he has received a
new headstone with his Silver Star award inscribed.
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Program
Procession
Presentation of Colors
McKinley Tech High School JROTC, MAJ Monica Martinez, Cmdr., SFC
Scheddrick Womack, Instructor
National Anthem
Daphne Dunston Wharton, McKinley Class of 1981
Pledge of Allegiance
Invocation
LTC (R) Chaplain Grace R. Hollis USA, McKinley class of 1979
Welcome
COL (R) Charles Alexander, Superintendent, Arlington National Cemetery
Music
“Garry Owen” SFC (R) Donald Francisco, USA, Old Guard Fife and
Drum
Introduction of Keynote
John W. McCaskill, M.A. McKinley Class of 1981
Keynote
BG Yolanda “YR” Summons, Director for Policy and Force Integration,
HQDA OTSG
Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, G-3/5/7, USAMEDCOM
Wreath Laying
Dr. Reynard Bouknight, Dr. Joyce Bouknight-Gant, Ms. Katrina
Bouknight, led by SFC Donald Francisco
Taps
Thomas M. Sneeringer, Bugles Across America
Remarks
Jan Scruggs, Vietnam Veteran, Founder of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Final Remarks
John W. McCaskill, M.A.
Benediction
LTC (R) Chaplain Grace R. Hollis
Retirement of Colors
McKinley Tech High School JROT