Rank: Private First Class
Unit: M Company, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 63C – General Vehicle Repairman
Awards: Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Unit awards: Meritorious Unit Citation, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: Regular
Date of birth: 4-May-1947
Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 6-Jan-1965
Start of tour: 23-Aug-1966
Incident date: 5-Dec-1966
Date of casualty: 5-Dec-1966
Age at death: 19
Cause of death: Hostile, Died. Small Arms Fire. Gun or small arms fire.
Larry M. Barnhill died on 5 Dec 1966 in Vietnam as a result of gunshot wound to head received in hostile ground action.
Two Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
PFC Larry M. Barnhill
SGT Paul McGaughey Jr
Location of fatality: South Vietnam
Place of interment: Oak Lawn Cemetery, Eastpoint, Maryland, USA
View this soldier‘s Find a Grave page (opens in a new window)
SILVER STAR
POSTHUMOUS
PFC LARRY M. BARNHILL
M COMPANY, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Private First Class Barnhill distinguished himself for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Private First Class Barnhill distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 5 December 1955 while serving on a tank crew of Troop M, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, during a search and destroy mission in Phuoc Tuy Province. Private Barnhill was in the exposed machine gun position on the tank as it moved into a blocking maneuver against a well-fortified Viet Cong bunker system. When sporadic fire was received from the left flank, the tank immediately moved to engage the insurgents. Again, from the left flank, a sudden burst of fire struck the tank commander. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Private Barnhill elected to remain in his exposed position, while firing on the Viet Cong, to protect his commander. During the exchange of fire, he received his fatal wound. Private Barnhill’s gallantry in action against a hostile force at the cost of his life, was in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Headquarters, United States Army Vietnam, General Orders No. 7149 (December 31, 1966)