VIETNAM - BURNS, WALTER

Burns, Walter

VIETNAM - BURNS, WALTER
BURNS, WALTER

Rank: Staff Sergeant

Unit: I Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment

MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist

Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge

Unit awards: Valorous Unit Award, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device

Enlisted by: Regular

Date of birth: 10-Jun-2029

Hometown: Due West, South Carolina

Marital status: Never Married

Campaign: Vietnam Conflict

Entered service: 17-Feb-1962

Start of tour: 2-Jul-1967

Incident date: 24-Sep-1967

Date of casualty: 24-Sep-1967

Age at death: 38

Cause of death: Hostile, Died. Grenade. Multiple fragmentation wounds.
Walter Burns was on a combat operation when hit by fragments from hostile mine.

Location of fatality: Long Khanh, South Vietnam

Place of interment: Mount Zion AME Church Cemetery, South Carolina, USA

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

Vietnam Veterans Memorial panel and row: 27E 004 (view Vietnam Veterans Memorial link in a new window)

 

BRONZE STAR MEDAL

BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS

STAFF SERGEANT WALTER BURNS
24 SEPTEMBER 1967
3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT

Staff Sergeant Burns distinguished himself by valorous actions on 24 September 1967, while serving as an Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle Commander with the 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. During the early morning hours, the troop was preparing to move from its night defensive position to continue search and destroy operations. As the Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicles moved from the perimeter, an insurgent command detonated mine suddenly exploded directly to the front of the lead vehicle. The Troop Commander immediately ordered a dismounted security patrol to search the dense jungle. Unhesitatingly, Sergeant Burns volunteered to lead the patrol and after several minutes of investigation, Sergeant Burns observed a minute strand of enemy detonating wire leading into the thick undergrowth. Sergeant Burns skillfully directed his men to deliver a withering barrage of suppressive, reconnaissance fire into the suspected enemy fortifications. Assured that the jungle was relatively free of Viet Cong positions, Sergeant Burns, bravely proceeded alone to examine the nature and origin of the insurgent detonating wire. As he cautiously moved through the deep growth of plants, a second Viet Cong mine exploded, inflicting severe wounds to Sergeant Burns. Disregarding his painful injuries, Sergeant Burns attempted to return to the location of the remaining members of his patrol to inform them of the situation. Staff Sergeant Burns’ personal bravery and devotion 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, 9th Infantry Division General Orders No. 5202 (6 October 1967)