Vesa Juhani Alakulppi
Encyclopedia
Vesa Juhani Alakulppi was a United States Army
captain and a recipient of the Silver Star medal for his actions in the Vietnam War.
and Eevi Alakulppi, during the period between Winter War
and Continuation War
known as Interim Peace
. Vesa Alakulppi began high school in Germany, attending the Nuremburg Dependent School, before transferring to Mainz
where he met Sharon, his future wife. He finished high school in Junction City, Kansas
. Vesa was an honor student, ranking fourth in his class of 113 students, with a grade point average of 3.68. Vesa also excelled in athletics, lettering twice in football in Germany, and playing on the Junction City basketball team that won the Central Kansas Conference championship.
In March, 1958, Vesa competed for, and won a presidential appointment to West Point Military Academy, where he made the Dean’s List his first year there and often tutored his classmates. When a local reporter asked Vesa about his aspirations for the future, he replied, "I have looked forward to an Army career all my life."
After graduating on June 5, 1963, the newly commissioned 2nd lieutenant went to Bamberg, Germany. In April, 1966, Vesa and Sharon were married. In 1967, Alakulppi received orders for Vietnam, with a stop enroute at the Jungle Warfare School in Panama. Upon arriving in Vietnam, Captain Vesa Alakulppi was assigned to the 2/3 Infantry of the 199th Light Infantry Brigade. He was initially the battalion S2, but he volunteered to be a rifle company commander, and was given "C" Company.
On May 14, 1968, in Gia Dinh, South Vietnam, his battalion was attacked by a superior force, and, after a furious battle, he was killed in action. A fellow company commander provided this account of the battle:
On May 28, 1968, Vesa Juhani Alakulppi was buried at the Evergreen Washelli Cemetery in Seattle, Washington
. In addition to the Bronze Star with 'V' for Valor Device, Purple Heart
, National Defense Service Medal
, Vietnam Service Medal
, Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, he was posthumously awarded the Silver Star
for his exceptional bravery.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
captain and a recipient of the Silver Star medal for his actions in the Vietnam War.
Biography
Vesa Juhani Alakulppi was born in Rovaniemi, Finland to Lt. Col. Olavi AlakulppiOlavi Alakulppi
Olavi Alakulppi was a Finnish cross country skier who competed in the 1930s. During the Russo-Finnish Continuation War, he served in the Finnish army, and was awarded the Mannerheim Cross...
and Eevi Alakulppi, during the period between Winter War
Winter War
The Winter War was a military conflict between the Soviet Union and Finland. It began with a Soviet offensive on 30 November 1939 – three months after the start of World War II and the Soviet invasion of Poland – and ended on 13 March 1940 with the Moscow Peace Treaty...
and Continuation War
Continuation War
The Continuation War was the second of two wars fought between Finland and the Soviet Union during World War II.At the time of the war, the Finnish side used the name to make clear its perceived relationship to the preceding Winter War...
known as Interim Peace
Interim Peace
The Interim Peace was a short period in the history of Finland during the Second World War. The term is used for the time between the Winter War and the Continuation War, lasting a little over a year, from 13 March 1940 to 24 June 1941...
. Vesa Alakulppi began high school in Germany, attending the Nuremburg Dependent School, before transferring to Mainz
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
where he met Sharon, his future wife. He finished high school in Junction City, Kansas
Junction City, Kansas
Junction City is a city in and the county seat of Geary County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 23,353. Fort Riley, a major U.S. Army post, is nearby...
. Vesa was an honor student, ranking fourth in his class of 113 students, with a grade point average of 3.68. Vesa also excelled in athletics, lettering twice in football in Germany, and playing on the Junction City basketball team that won the Central Kansas Conference championship.
In March, 1958, Vesa competed for, and won a presidential appointment to West Point Military Academy, where he made the Dean’s List his first year there and often tutored his classmates. When a local reporter asked Vesa about his aspirations for the future, he replied, "I have looked forward to an Army career all my life."
After graduating on June 5, 1963, the newly commissioned 2nd lieutenant went to Bamberg, Germany. In April, 1966, Vesa and Sharon were married. In 1967, Alakulppi received orders for Vietnam, with a stop enroute at the Jungle Warfare School in Panama. Upon arriving in Vietnam, Captain Vesa Alakulppi was assigned to the 2/3 Infantry of the 199th Light Infantry Brigade. He was initially the battalion S2, but he volunteered to be a rifle company commander, and was given "C" Company.
On May 14, 1968, in Gia Dinh, South Vietnam, his battalion was attacked by a superior force, and, after a furious battle, he was killed in action. A fellow company commander provided this account of the battle:
Captain Alakulppi, on losing communication with his strong point and receiving the report of enemy penetration from other bunkers, left his command post to tighten the remaining defenses and organize a counterattack. He went to the adjacent positions of the danger point, issued the orders to shift fires in order to contain the penetration, and then started a personal reconnaissance of the situation. As he moved to a vantage point among the trees and irrigation ditches of the orchard he was ambushed and killed.
On May 28, 1968, Vesa Juhani Alakulppi was buried at the Evergreen Washelli Cemetery in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
. In addition to the Bronze Star with 'V' for Valor Device, Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
, National Defense Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
The National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower...
, Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
The Vietnam Service Medal is a military award which was created in 1965 by order of President Lyndon B. Johnson. The distinctive design was the creation of sculptor Thomas Hudson Jones, a former employee of the Army Institute of Heraldry. The medal is issued to recognize military service during...
, Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, he was posthumously awarded the Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
for his exceptional bravery.
Silver Star citation
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 8, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Captain Vesa Juhani Alakulppi (ASN: 0-98573), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 14 May 1968 while serving as Commanding Officer, Company C, 2d Battalion, 3d Infantry Regiment, 199th Infantry Brigade (Separate) (Light), in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Captain Alakulppi was in command of a ready reaction force consisting of one rifle platoon and a mortar section providing security for a large two-company base camp when an unknown-size Viet Cong force attacked the perimeter with automatic weapons, small arms and rocket fire. Reacting immediately, Captain Alakulppi rallied his men to halt the enemy's advance. Realizing that, because of adverse weather conditions air support was not available, Captain Alakulppi repeatedly exposed himself to the intense enemy fire in order to direct supporting artillery fire close to his company's position. During the savage battle, without regard for his personal safety, he continually moved about the perimeter, encouraging his men and directing their fire. Realizing that his unit was isolated from friendly reinforcements, Captain Alakulppi continued to provide dynamic and aggressive leadership in the valiant defense of the base camp until he was mortally wounded by enemy fire. By his courageous actions, he inspired his men to greater efforts and enabled them to bring maximum suppressive fire against the Viet Cong force and repel the enemy attack. Captain Alakulppi's exceptional heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War