Rank: Specialist 4
Unit: A Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist
Awards: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge
Unit awards: Presidential Unit Citation, Valorous Unit Award, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: Selected Service
Date of birth: 3-Jun-1949
Hometown: Connellsville, Pennsylvania
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 20-Mar-1969
Start of tour: 8-Sep-1969
Incident date: 19-Jun-1970
Date of casualty: 19-Jun-1970
Age at death: 21
Cause of death: Hostile, Died. Small Arms Fire. Gun or small arms fire.
Francis Ray Addis was killed while on a combat operation when a hostile force was encountered. / On combat patrol around night defensive position (NDP). Engaged hostile force in firefight.
Three Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
SP4 Francis Ray Addis
1LT Robert Knapp Henderson Jr
SP4 Larry Robert Ladd
Location of fatality: Cambodia, XU 453 013
Place of interment: Hill Grove Cemetery, Connellsville, Pennsylvania, USA
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ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
SPECIALIST FOUR FRANCIS RAY ADDIS
9 JUNE 1970
A TROOP, 1st SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Specialist Four Addis distinguished himself by heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force on 9 June 1970 while serving as a tracked vehicle commander with Troop A, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, elements of Troop A were conducting a mine sweeping operation when they were attacked on both flanks by an estimated North Vietnamese company entrenched in bunkers. Though Specialist Addis was wounded during the initial moments of contact, he retaliated with highly accurate suppressive fire and was responsible for destroying two bunkers. Only when lack of blood weakened him did he submit to medical aid. When he had regained his strength, he resumed his position as tank commander and again placed a heavy barrage of fire upon the enemy positions. When contact was broken he allowed himself to be evacuated. Specialist Four Addis’ actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam, General Orders No. 3014 (24 July 1970)