Rank: Specialist 4
Unit: A Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Unit awards: Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: Regular
Date of birth: 6-May-1945
Hometown: Waco, Texas
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Start of tour: 20-Aug-1966
Incident date: 14-Mar-1967
Date of casualty: 14-Mar-1967
Age at death: 21
Cause of death: Hostile, Died. Grenade. Multiple fragmentation wounds. Indiv was on combat operation when hit by fragments from hostile grenade.
Location of fatality: Phuoc Long, South Vietnam
Place of interment: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
SPECIALIST FOUR HUGH VICTOR BEST
14 MARCH 1967
A TROOP, 1st SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Specialist Four Best distinguished himself by heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force on 14 March 1967 while assigned to Troop A, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date while serving as a member of a combat patrol, Specialist Best was moving with his comrades into a densely wooded area in an attempt to locate two Viet Cong soldiers who had been observed by an outpost. As the patrol advanced, Specialist Best was instructed to cover the left flank. As it approached a mall stream, the patrol came under heavy small arms and rifle fire from an enemy force entrenched on the far side of the stream. Specialist Best, with complete disregard for his own safety, immediately began to place return fire on the enemy position which allowed the remainder of his patrol to seek cover. Remaining exposed to the Viet Cong, Specialist Best continued to fire until he was struck by fragments from enemy rifle grenades and killed. As a result of his sacrifice and outstanding display of courage, his patrol was able to gain fire superiority over the Viet Cong and force them to retreat. His personal bravery during the encounter with the enemy is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam General Orders No. 449 (24 March 1967)