Medal of Honor Citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. S/Sgt. Bacon distinguished himself while serving as a squad leader with the 1st Platoon, Company B, during an operation west of Tam Ky. When Company B came under fire from an enemy bunker line to the front, S/Sgt. Bacon quickly organized his men and led them forward in an assault. He advanced on a hostile bunker and destroyed it with grenades. As he did so, several fellow soldiers including the 1st Platoon leader, were struck by machine gun fire and fell wounded in an exposed position forward of the rest of the platoon. S/Sgt. Bacon immediately assumed command of the platoon and assaulted the hostile gun position, finally killing the enemy gun crew in a single-handed effort. When the 3d Platoon moved to S/Sgt. Bacon's location, its leader was also wounded. Without hesitation S/Sgt. Bacon took charge of the additional platoon and continued the fight. In the ensuing action he personally killed 4 more enemy soldiers and silenced an antitank weapon. Under his leadership and example, the members of both platoons accepted his authority without question. Continuing to ignore the intense hostile fire, he climbed up on the exposed deck of a tank and directed fire into the enemy position while several wounded men were evacuated. As a result of S/Sgt. Bacon's extraordinary efforts, his company was able to move forward, eliminate the enemy positions, and rescue the men trapped to the front. S/Sgt. Bacon's bravery at the risk of his life was in the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

Rank: Staff Sergeant

Organization: U.S. Army

Company: Company B, 4th Battalion

Division: 21st Infantry, 11th Infantry Brigade

Born: 25 November 1945, Caraway, Ark.

Departed: Yes (07/17/2010)

Entered Service At: Phoenix, Ariz.

G.O. Number:

Date of Issue: 

Accredited To:

Place / Date: West of Tam Ky, Republic of Vietnam, 26 August 1968

The Congressional Medal of Honor Society announces that Army 1st Sergeant Nicky D. Bacon, Medal of Honor recipient, passed away Saturday, July 17, 2010 at his home in Rosebud, Arkansas at age 64.

Nick was a fellow Gimlet who served with 4/21, B Co. 11th Inf. Bg., 21 Inf. Div. (Americal) The following page is our tribute to him.

Staff Sergeant Nicky Daniel Bacon

Nick Bacon, U.S. Army First Sergeant Retired, and Arkansas' last living recipient of the Medal of Honor died Saturday morning, at the age of 64 after a long fought battle with cancer.

Governor Mike Beebe had a few words regarding his friends passing. He says, "You never saw him down. I never saw him feel sorry for himself. He was always somebody who wanted to do something for somebody else. Nick Bacon is to be remembered as an Arkansas and an American hero."

He served in the United States Army from 1963 to 1984 and was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Nixon for his heroic efforts west of Tam Ky, Republic of Vietnam on August 26, 1968 while serving as Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army's 11th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. During his second tour of duty, for which he volunteered, Squad Leader Bacon took charge of two platoons of Company B after their platoon leaders and several soldiers fell wounded. He fought off enemy positions as he led his men forward to rescue those trapped at the front. On his first tour of duty, he narrowly survived a helicopter crash. He tried to serve a third tour, but was refused. Nick also received the Distinguished Service Cross, Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars, and Purple Heart.

Nick Bacon was appointed Director of the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs in April, 1993 by Governor Jim Guy Tucker. He was re-appointed by Governor Mike Huckabee and served until February, 2005. Mr. Bacon was essential in the development of the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery and the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery Beautification Foundation. A staunch supporter of veterans, he also helped to establish the Arkansas Veterans' Coalition.

Nicky Daniel Bacon was born November 25, 1945 in Caraway, Arkansas to a farm family of six children. His family moved to Arizona when he was a child. There, at the age of 17, he joined the Army. After retiring from the military, he returned to Arizona and worked for the VA Regional Office in Phoenix. Following a stint working for John McCain's U.S. Senate campaign, he became City Manager of Surprise, Arizona. He moved back to Arkansas in 1990. He most recently lived in Rose Bud. Nick leaves behind his wife Tamera Ann, several children and grandchildren.

Final arrangements are not complete, but service with full military honors will be conducted at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock on Saturday, July 24, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. Following the service, a reception is being planned. Information about the service, the reception, and parking arrangements will be placed on our web site, when available.

Survivors include his wife, Tamera Himmerick Bacon of Rose Bud; two daughters from his first marriage, Kristy DeKort of Kempner, Tex., and Kim Beck of Gatesville, Tex.; three sons from his second marriage, Britt Bacon of Rose Bud, Wyatt Bacon of Russellville, Ark., and Staff Sgt. James Bacon of Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; a son from another relationship, William Bacon-Tonihka of Bella Vista, Ark.; four sisters; two brothers; and six grandchildren.

Final arrangements are not complete, but service with full military honors will be conducted at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock on Saturday, July 24th, 2010.

Former Surprise town

manager, Medal of Honor

winner dies

by Lisa Halverstadt - Jul. 23, 2010 09:03 AM

The Arizona Republic

A former Surprise town manager and Medal of Honor recipient died Saturday after a battle with cancer. He was 64.

Army 1st Staff Sgt. Nick Bacon, whose parents moved to Surprise to work as farm laborers in 1949, would go on to be considered a hometown hero and advocate for veterans nationwide.

But first he served two eventful tours in Vietnam. Bacon was once burned as he tried to save a sergeant and another time, was one of two survivors of a helicopter crash.

Before retiring from active duty in 1984, Bacon received numerous military honors including a Purple Heart, a Distinguished Service Cross and the prestigious Medal of Honor for leading fellow soldiers in Vietnam after two platoon leaders were injured and continuing the assault against enemy troops.

Bacon returned to the Phoenix area after his retirement, initially working for the Med Vet hospital program.

Then, in 1987, Bacon submitted his resume for an open Surprise town manager's post and got the job.

Under Bacon's watch, the town quickly annexed about 55 miles in what is now west Surprise and pushed for development.

"Look at the land practices of Peoria and Glendale," Bacon told The Republic that year. "These cities have been expanding by leaps and bounds. Why should Surprise be left behind?"

Longtime Surprise Councilman Roy Villanueva said he initially opposed Bacon's hiring but came to appreciate his passion for his hometown.

"He was a good person who involved himself with the community and tried to help Surprise as much as possible," Villanueva said.

Bacon hired current Surprise City Clerk Sherry Aguilar as a receptionist in January 1990.

"It seemed like he had so much energy and was really wanting to take (Surprise) to the next level," she said. "It seemed like he was so enthusiastic."

But by July 1990, Bacon was ready to move on. He cited job stress as the reason for his resignation.

His brother, John Bacon of Yarnell, Ariz. said his older brother moved to Arkansas, where he was born, to serve as deputy director of the state Department of Veteran Affairs. Nick Bacon would later take the top post, which he held until his 2005 retirement.

Then he was tapped to serve on the 13-member Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission. For 2  1/2 years, Bacon commuted between Arkansas and Washington, D.C., John Bacon said.

In 2007, the veterans group released a 544-page report which concluded the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments failed to provide adequate mental health care and timely, fair disability payments.

Bacon used the recognition he received throughout his life to draw attention to veterans' issues, brother John Bacon said.

"He was very humble and he accepted the roles," John Bacon said. "I was impressed so many times going to banquets with dignitaries and politicians. It didn't affect him in the least. He was as comfortable with a person on the street as he was with George W. Bush."

Nick Bacon's nephew, Surprise police Lt. John Bacon, agreed. "He was very humble and unassuming. He was a leader in a very quiet way but he wasn't afraid to speak out when he needed to."

In the later years of his life, Nick Bacon was president and chief executive of DVC Construction, Inc. of Little Rock. He lived in Rose Bud, Ark.

Bacon's survivors include his wife Tamera Himmerick Bacon, two daughters, four sons, four brothers, five sisters and six grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Saturday at the Arkansas State Veterans in North Little Rock, a facility he helped develop.

Nick Bacon considered the cemetery one of his greatest accomplishments, his brother said.

"Did I enjoy combat? Yeah. I enjoyed the game," 1st Sgt. Bacon said in the "Beyond Glory" interview. "I was good at it."