Rank: Specialist 4
Unit: D Company, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11E – Armor Crewman
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, 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: Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: Selected Service
Date of birth: 15-May-1947
Hometown: Glen Easton, West Virginia
Marital status: Married to Alice V. Aston
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 16-Apr-1968
Start of tour: 30-Nov-1968
Incident date: 30-Mar-1969
Date of casualty: 30-Mar-1969
Age at death: 21
Cause of death: Hostile, Died. Explosive Device. Other explosive device.
Lyle Glenn Aston was killed while passenger on a military vehicle on a combat operation when encountered a hostile force. / Passenger on Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) on assault mission when hit by fragments from hostile rocket propelled grenade (RPG) attack.
Location of fatality: Binh Duong, South Vietnam, XT 566 547
Place of interment: Fork Ridge Christian Cemetery, West Virginia, USA
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ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
SPECIALIST FOUR LYLE GLENN ASTON
30 MARCH 1969
D COMPANY, 1st SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Specialist Four Aston distinguished himself by heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force on 30 March 1969 while serving as a tank driver with Company D, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date while Company D was conducting a reconnaissance-in-force mission through a large rubber plantation, they were suddenly engaged by an enemy force. Although his tank was being raked by a heavy concentration of small arms and automatic weapons fire, Specialist Aston continued to expertly maneuver his vehicle against the hostile positions. While he was spearheading the assault, his vehicle sustained a direct hit from an enemy antitank grenade, fatally wounding him. Specialist Four Aston’s courage and dedication 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.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam General Orders No. 1000 (20 April 1969)
BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
SPECIALIST FOUR LYLE GLENN ASTON
14 MARCH 1969
D COMPANY, 1st SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Specialist Four Aston distinguished himself by heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force on 14 March 1969 while serving as a tank driver with Company D, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date while Company D was assaulting an enemy force, his vehicle sustained a direct hit from an enemy antitank grenade, knocking out his vehicle’s entire communications system. Although he was forced to assume an exposed position in order to follow the hand and arm signals of the platoon leader, Specialist Aston continued to expertly maneuver his vehicle. On three separate occasions during the fierce engagement, he directed his tank in successful assaults on well-fortified enemy bunkers. Specialist Four Aston’s courage and resourcefulness 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. 1004 (21 April 1969)