On that day, at Khe Gio Bridge in the Republic of Vietnam, Stout picked up an enemy-thrown grenade and used his body to shield his comrades at the expense of his own life.

Stout distinguished himself during an attack by a North Vietnamese Army Sapper company on his unit's firing position at Khe Gio Bridge.

Stout was in a bunker with members of a searchlight crew when the position came under heavy enemy mortar fire and ground attack.

By holding the grenade close to his body and shielding its blast, he protected his fellow soldiers in the bunker from further injury or death.

Stout's conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action, at the cost of his own life, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon him, his unit and the U.S.

[10] In 2024, the M-SHORAD air defense vehicle based on the Stryker platform was officially named after Stout.