Medal of Honor Recipient Nicky D. Bacon Passes Away at 64

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Congressional Medal of Honor Society

Jul 19, 2010, 11:06 ET

Earned Nation's Highest Award for Valor during Vietnam

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C., July 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 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 received his Medal of Honor from President Nixon in November 1969 for his heroic and tenacious leadership and initiative in a horrific battle near Tam Ky, Vietnam on June 8, 1968.

His other military decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross, the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Star Medals and a Purple Heart. He retired from active duty in 1984 at the rank of 1st sergeant. First Sergeant Bacon also served for two years as president of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.

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.

There are 88 recipients alive today.

About the Congressional Medal of Honor Society

The Congressional Medal of Honor Society was chartered by Congress in 1958 and consists exclusively of the living recipients of our nation's highest award for bravery in combat, the Medal of Honor. Those who wear this light blue ribbon and Medal around their neck are "recipients" of this prestigious award; they are not "winners." Although it is common to refer to the Medal as the Congressional Medal of Honor, it is simply named the Medal of Honor, although, as stated, the Congress did establish the Society as the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.