Stephen Fenes: Silver and Bronze Star Hero of Con Thien

By Ryan Labita, Honor Flight Chicago Veteran Interview Volunteer

Steelworker Second Class Stephen Fenes was born and raised in Hammond, IN where he grew up on a farm with his parents and siblings. After graduating high school in 1962, a Navy recruiter came to the farm to discuss joining the Navy. Accustomed to a life of manual labor, Stephen wanted a rate that would best suit his interests. Seeing the great opportunity to learn a trade and serve his country, Stephen enlisted in the United States Navy on  August 23, 1965 as a Steelworker. Before shipping out to Boot Camp, he enrolled in the Delayed Entry Program for 18 months working on various civilian construction projects.

Steelworkers (SW) operate equipment used for metal construction, fabricate steel, and perform metal work such as welding and cutting. SWs are one of seven rates apart of the United States Naval Construction Battalion, most commonly known as the Seabees. The name, “Seabees” derives from the letters “C” and “B” in the Construction Battalion. The other six Seabee rates include Builder (BU), Utilitiesman (UT), Equipment Operator (EO), Construction Electrician (CE), Construction Mechanic (CM), and Engineering Aide (EA). Since their establishment on March 5,1942, the Seabees have lived up to their motto “Construimus, Batuimus” which means “We build, We fight.” Seabees constructed and maintained a wide variety of Navy and Marine Corps land and water infrastructures. Examples include airfields, bridges, and the naval research base on the South Pole.

Stephen Fenes attended Basic Training at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, IL. Following Boot Camp, he attended Steelworker “A” School in Davisville, RI where he learned skills such as welding, cable splicing, and how to make a chisel. All of his classmates were at one point or another sent overseas to aid the US’s war effort in Vietnam. After graduating from “A” School, Fenes transferred to Camp Pendleton, CA for Basic Firearms Training. His first assignment was Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3 in Port Hueneme, CA. He later transferred to Battalion 4 also based out of Port Hueneme. Battalion 4 has two nicknames: “The Fabulous Four” and “The Pioneers” for being one of the first battalions created after the original three. He was promoted to Steel Worker Third Class (Petty Officer Third Class/E-4)

SWF3 Fenes deployed with MCB4 on April 8,1967 to De Nang, Vietnam. This was Battalion 4’s second of four Vietnam deployments. In addition to constructing the Da Nang Air Base, Fenes worked on the duct work for the base bowling alley. SWF3 Fenes was a part of a small detachment of Seabees sent out to build a camp at Hill 158, nicknamed “Freedom Hill,” in Con Thien for the US Army Special Forces Detachment A-110 (Mobile Strike Force). His job was to construct and maintain the drilling rig used to create a water well that would supply fresh, potable water.

Despite translating to “Hill of Angels” in Vietnamese, Con Thien was hell on earth. Con Thien was the northernmost U.S. outpost nearly two miles away from the Demilitarized Zone. The North Vietnamese fired an average of 105 mortar shells every day at the US encampment. One of their main targets was the water well drilling rig SWF3 Fenes was working on. In the pre-dawn hours of May 8,1967 at 0200, the North Vietnamese Army battered the American troops with 2,000 mortar rounds for 15 minutes under the dark of night without any moonlight. A numerically superior group of North Vietnamese then infiltrated the defensive positions at Hill 158 blowing past the Civilian Irregular Defense Group and wiping out an entire Marine platoon in the process. They commenced firing upon the Seabees and Green Berets. Without any hesitation or thought for his own life, SWF3 Fenes grabbed an M-14 rifle and joined an M-60 machine gun team to return fire while enemy bullets were flying past them from all angles. Hearing cries of help from two Green Berets that were stuck at a nearby 50 caliber machine gun position, SWF3 Fenes valiantly jumped up with his Battalion’s Corpsman and ran out to pull the Green Berets back to safety. One Green Beret took a bullet to his neck while the other had no injuries. Not only did they survive but SWF3 Fenes’ aggressive and selfless actions helped defend the Seabee and Special Forces position at Con Thien all while remaining cool under fire. The fighting continued as the sun rose up until the North Vietnamese retreated by 0900. Fenes had an estimated 145 North Vietnamese kills. For his heroic actions on that day, SWF3 Fenes was awarded the Silver Star & the Bronze Star with Combat “V”. His fellow Seabee UT1 Lloyd O’Banion also received a Silver Star. They lived up to the Seabee motto that day – They built and they fought.

When Fenes returned to Da Nang Air Base, the Corpsman determined that he had caught some shrapnel metal from the fight at Con Thien. Because there were so many Seabees involved in the fight, the Executive Officer did not want to award all of them Purple Hearts believing a big number of awardees would cause suspicion. As a compromise, the CO placed four Purple Hearts on a table and it was first come, first serve for whoever wanted the medals. Believing he was just doing his job, Fenes did not take a Purple Heart.

Prior to being honorably discharged in August 1967, Fenes earned the rank of Steelworker Second Class (Petty Officer Second Class/E-5). Stephen returned back home to Indiana and on October 1, 1967, he joined the Hammond Fire Department. Out of his 21 years serving in the HFD, he spent 17 years as an engineer driving fire trucks. Stephen won 1988 HFD Firefighter of the Year and earned a Fire Science Degree from the State of Indiana. He utilized his Steelworker skills doing welding work for the fire department.

Reflecting upon his time as a Seabee, Stephen has no regrets. His time in the Navy taught him a professional trade and gave him a cherished sense of camaraderie. He learned to always give your best shot, do what you have to do, always do the right thing, use your head when making decisions, and depend on one another. These lessons learned in the Navy transitioned towards his firefighting career and life. 

Stephen holds a strong sense of patriotism knowing he did his part to help serve his nation. Anyone who serves their country in his opinion is worthy of appreciation. In his own words, “Every veteran is special.”

His awards include the Silver Star, Bronze Star with with Combat “V”, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 196th- Device. Commemorative awards include the Combat Action Commemorative Medal, Combat Service Commemorative Medal, U.S. Air Force Commemorative Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Overseas Service Commemorative Medal, Navy Service Commemorative Medal, Honorable Service Commemorative Medal, Honorable Discharge Commemorative Medal & the Seabee Commemorative Medal.

Thank You SWF3 Fenes for being an inspiration to us all with your courageous service.  Enjoy your well-deserved day of Honor!