Vesa Juhani Alakulppi

Vesa Juhani Alakulppi (April 23, 1941 - May 14, 1968) was a United States Army 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 Alakulppi 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 Nurnberg High 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 en route 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. In addition to the Bronze Star with 'V' for Valor Device, Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, he was posthumously awarded the Silver Star 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.

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