1st Battalion 22nd Infantry Ernest G. Mines

1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

Ernest G. Mines

Company C

Distinguished Service Cross

GENERAL ORDERS:
Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 3732 (August 13, 1970)

CITATION:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963),
takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Sergeant Ernest Gray Mines, United States Army,
for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force
in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 22d Infantry, 4th Infantry Division.

First Sergeant Mines distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 18 October 1969 while participating in
a search and clear mission in the mountainous terrain northeast of An Khe. While exploring a cavern located near an enemy camp site,
he discovered a cache containing rifles, baskets of rice, and salt. First Sergeant Mines summoned other team members to aid him
in removing the supplies. As his companions gathered around and he began to remove the items, he activated a concealed
booby trap which caused an armed grenade to fall to the cavern floor.

Reacting quickly, First Sergeant Mines warned his comrades and then threw himself directly on the grenade.
After an agonizing period during which the grenade failed to explode, he carefully moved off the grenade
and ran from the cave. A subsequent examination of the grenade revealed that the pin had been pulled,
but the safety release had not been removed when the booby trap had been emplaced.

First Sergeant Mine's extraordinary 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.

**********************

Ernest Gray "Pete" Mines, 74, husband of Frances P. Mines of Briarwood Circle, Staunton,
died Monday, September 15, 2008, in Fishersville.

He was born May 21, 1934, in Bath County, a son of the late John and Madeline Mines.

CSM (Retired) Mines was a member of Olivet Presbyterian Church, where he served as an Elder and Sunday School teacher.
He was a member of the Augusta County Lions Club. He was retired from the United States Army. A Vietnam Veteran,
his awards included the Distinguished Service Cross, Bronze Star with Valor, Air Medal, Purple Heart,
and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm.

For the past 20 years, he was the caretaker of the Staunton National Cemetery. A graduate of Mary Baldwin College,
he served as a teacher in the Augusta County School System.

In addition to his wife, family members include a son and daughter-in-law, Colonel Pete and Elizabeth Mines of Fayetteville,
North Carolina; two daughters and sons-in-law, Robin and Colonel (Retired) Edward Hevener of Lake Gaston and
Kitty and Robin Saunders of Hot Springs; a sister, Lucille Swink of Hot Springs; 11 grand-children; four great- grand-children;
and a number of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a brother, George Mines and a sister, Connie Folks.

A funeral service will be conducted 3 p.m. Saturday, September 20, 2008, at Olivet Presbyterian Church by the
Reverend Jack Wilkers, pastor of Third Presbyterian Church.

Burial with full military honors will follow at the Staunton National Cemetery.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Staunton/ Augusta County S.P.C.A., P. O. Box 2014, Staunton, VA 24402.

Henry Funeral Home is handling the arrangements and condolences may be sent to the family at www.henryfuneralhome.net.

This obituary was originally published in the News Virginian.

BURIAL
Staunton National Cemetery
Staunton, Staunton City, Virginia

Grave marker for Ernest G. Mines

Photo by B. Felix from the Find A Grave website

For tributes to Ernest G. Mines from his former students view the page for him at Legacy.com

Top photo of Ernest G. Mines as a Sergeant First Class and instructor at Agusta Military Academy
from the Augusta Military Academy yearbook for 1967

BACK