Vietnam Medal of Honor Recipient. Served during the Viet Nam War in the United States Army as a First Sergeant in Company A, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery near Phu Hoa Dong, Republic of Vietnam, on February 26, 1967. His citation reads "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 1st Sgt. Yabes distinguished himself with Company A, which was providing security for a land clearing operation. Early in the morning the company suddenly came under intense automatic weapons and mortar fire followed by a battalion sized assault from 3 sides. Penetrating the defensive perimeter, the enemy advanced on the company command post bunker. The command post received increasingly heavy fire and was in danger of being overwhelmed. When several enemy grenades landed within the command post, 1st Sgt. Yabes shouted a warning and used his body as a shield to protect others in the bunker. Although painfully wounded by numerous grenade fragments, and despite the vicious enemy fire on the bunker, he remained there to provide covering fire and enable the others in the command group to relocate. When the command group had reached a new position, 1st Sgt. Yabes moved through a withering hail of enemy fire to another bunker 50 meters away. There he secured a grenade launcher from a fallen comrade and fired point blank into the attacking Viet Cong stopping further penetration of the perimeter. Noting 2 wounded men helpless in the fire swept area, he moved them to a safer position where they could be given medical treatment. He resumed his accurate and effective fire killing several enemy soldiers and forcing others to withdraw from the vicinity of the command post. As the battle continued, he observed an enemy machinegun within the perimeter which threatened the whole position. On his own, he dashed across the exposed area, assaulted the machinegun, killed the crew, destroyed the weapon, and fell mortally wounded. 1st Sgt. Yabes' valiant and selfless actions saved the lives of many of his fellow soldiers and inspired his comrades to effectively repel the enemy assault. His indomitable fighting spirit, extraordinary courage and intrepidity at the cost of his life are in the highest military traditions and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country". His Medal was posthumously awarded to his family by Secretary of the Army Stanley A. Resor on October 31, 1968. Although he was born in California, he had his childhood in Oakridge, Oregon, attending school there. In 1950, he left high school to join the United States Army, serving for 17 years. After his death, his Oregon community erected a memorial to his honor of featuring a fountain, a flag pole and a bronze bust of Yabes on a granite pedestal with his citation engraved on it. A street in El Paso, Texas was named in his honor. Besides the Medal of Honor, he received a Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge, Good Conduct Medal times five, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with two stars, Vietnam Gallantry Cross with two palms, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Parachutist Badge, and Expert Marksmanship with Rife and Pistol Bar.