Richard A. Penry

Richard Allen Penry (November 18, 1948 – May 9, 1994) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.

Biography Born in Petaluma, California, Penry joined the Army from Oakland, California in March 1969, and by January 31, 1970, was serving as a Sergeant in Company C, 4th Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 199th Infantry Brigade. On that day, in Binh Tuy Province of the Republic of Vietnam, his unit came under an intense enemy attack. After the company commander was wounded, Penry helped organize the defense of the area and repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to retrieve supplies and return fire. He was honorably discharged from the Army in March 1971. thumb Penry's Medal of Honor and ribbons on display at the Sgt. Richard Penry Medal of Honor Memorial Military Museum in Petaluma, California

In the 1970s, Penry was arrested for selling cocaine to an undercover agent. He was placed on parole in 1974, the judge stated that Penry had "done more for his country in one day than most do in a lifetime." Penry was arrested again in 1976 and put on probation.

Penry suffered from Lupus and died at age 45 of cancer. As of April, 2025, Penry still held a federal conviction.

Medal of Honor citation

Awards and decorations