Fred Walter Jansonius

Fred Walter Jansonius was born on July 23, 1948, to John Willard Jansonius and Fern Marie Rippee in Jamestown, Stutsman County, North Dakota. He was drafted into the United States Army. Private First Class Jansonius arrived in Vietnam on October 15, 1967, and was assigned to B Company, 2nd Battalion, 560th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division, United States Army Vietnam (USARV) and later was assigned to Battalion Recon, 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division, United States Army Vietnam (USARV). He was a member of a reconnaissance unit that was out on a reconnaissance patrol when they encountered hostile forces in the vicinity of Ben Tre City, while participating in Operation Enterprise. Private First Class Jansonius died as a result of hostile rifle fire wounds to the body on February 2, 1968, in Khanh Hoa (Kien Hoa), South Vietnam. He is buried in Highland Home Cemetery, Jamestown, Stutsman County, North Dakota. He was awarded the Silver Star Medal for Valor.  

Hall of Valor states "The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Fred Walter Jansonius (ASN: US-55930005), United States Army, for gallantry in action involving close combat against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Private First Class Jansonius distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 2 February 1968, while serving as a Rifleman with Company B, 2d Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division, near Ben Tre. As the friendly element closed on the village, it suddenly came under heavy mortar, rocket, automatic and semiautomatic weapons fire from a hostile force entrenched in bunkers and houses along the streets. Many friendly casualties were sustained during the initial burst of fire. Private Jansonius, a member of the point element, detected the bunker that was causing the most damage to the pinned down company and, under a devastating torrent of enemy fire, began to make his way toward it. As he neared the insurgent position he was seriously wounded, but doggedly regained his feet and continued toward his objective. Almost immediately after destroying the enemy bunker with a hand grenade, Private Jansonius was mortally wounded. Private First Class Jansonius’ extraordinary heroism in close combat against a Viet Cong force was in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 9th Infantry Division, and the United States Army."

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