Rank: First Lieutenant
Unit: Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 6124
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Air Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Army Aviator Badge
Unit awards: Valorous Unit Award, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Note: OH-6A, Tail # 69-15963, Pilot
Flight class: 70-10, Fort Wolters, Texas
Enlisted by: Reserve
Commission Source: Artillery OCS Class 13-69, Fort Sill, Oklahoma
Date of birth: 1-Apr-1947
Hometown: Overland Park, Kansas
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 16-May-1968
Start of tour: 13-Jun-1970
Incident date: 19-Dec-1970
Date of casualty: 19-Dec-1970
Age at death: 23
Cause of death: Hostile, Died. Helicopter Crash — Crew (MC). Aircraft loss, crash not at sea.
Dan L. F. Combs III was killed while a pilot of a military aircraft on a military mission when the aircraft was fired upon by a hostile ground force, crashed and burned. / Pilot on light observation helicopter (LOH) on visual reconnaissance mission. Received hostile ground fire, exploded in mid-air, crashed and burned.
Two Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
SP5 Joseph William Blickenstaff Jr
1LT Dan L. F. Coombs III
Location of fatality: Binh Duong, South Vietnam, YT 014 367
Place of interment: Johnson County Chapel and Memorial Gardens, Overland Park, Kansas, USA
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DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS
FIRST LIEUTENANT DAN L. F. COOMBS III, FIELD ARTILLERY
12 AUGUST 1970
AIR CAVALRY TROOP
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
First Lieutenant Coombs distinguished himself for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary action above and beyond the call of duty on 12 August 1970 while serving as a pilot with the Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Lieutenant Coombs was in his light observation helicopter. Flying cover for elements of the Aero-Rifle Platoon on the ground. Flying at dangerously low altitudes, he placed accurate suppressive fire upon enemy positions and marked the enemy locations with smoke grenades. As a medical evacuation helicopter entered the area, Lieutenant Coombs then proceeded to provide accurate and suppressive covering fire for the craft. Though dangerously low on fuel, Lieutenant Coombs continued to shield the rescue ship by maneuvering his helicopter between the enemy ground fire and the craft. He then continued on station, accurately calling in artillery strikes, until another helicopter could relieve him. His actions contributed significantly to a successful extraction of the wounded personnel. First Lieutenant Coombs’ 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. 4080 (October 12, 1970)