VIETNAM - ASTON, LYLE GLENN

Aston, Lyle Glenn

VIETNAM - ASTON, LYLE GLENN
ASTON, LYLE GLENN

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

View this soldier‘s Find a Grave page (opens in a new window)

Vietnam Veterans Memorial panel and row: 28W 088 (view Vietnam Veterans Memorial link in a new window)

 

ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL

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

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)