VIETNAM - CORNWELL, JOHN BRUCE

Cornwell, John Bruce

VIETNAM - CORNWELL, JOHN BRUCE
CORNWELL, JOHN BRUCE

Rank: Specialist 5

Unit: 919th Engineer Company, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment

MOS: 11B – Infantryman

Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device and Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart Medal, 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: Regular

Date of birth: 24-Dec-1947

Hometown: Silver Creek, New York

Marital status: Never Married

Campaign: Vietnam Conflict

Entered service: 25-Nov-1966

Start of tour: 17-May-1969

Incident date: 9-Jul-1969

Date of casualty: 9-Jul-1969

Age at death: 21

Cause of death: Hostile, Died. Small Arms Fire. Gun or small arms fire.
John Bruce Cornwell was killed while gunner on a military vehicle on a combat operation when hostile force was encountered. / Left gunner on armored personnel carrier (APC) on combat operation.  Engaged hostile force in firefight.

Five Blackhorse troopers died as a result of this incident:
SGT Thomas Jackson Barnes Jr
SP4 Earl Lloyd Cook
SP5 John Bruce Cornwell
SGT Jimmie Charles Scrogum
1LT Carl Douglas Shirley

Location of fatality: Binh Long, South Vietnam, XT 738 930

Place of interment: Glenwood Cemetery, Silver Creek, New York, USA

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

Vietnam Veterans Memorial panel and row: 21W 088 (view Vietnam Veterans Memorial link in a new window)

 

BRONZE STAR MEDAL

BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE AND OAK LEAF CLUSTER
POSTHUMOUS

SPECIALIST FIVE JOHN BRUCE CORNWELL
9 JULY 1969
919TH ENGINEER COMPANY (ARMORED)
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT

Specialist Five Cornwell distinguished himself by heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force on 9 July 1969 while serving as a gunner with the 919th Engineer Company (Armored), 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On. this date while acting as rear security for a convoy, his platoon came under intense automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenade fire from a large, well-concealed enemy force. Disregarding the hostile fusillade to which he was exposed, Specialist Cornwell immediately began placing accurate suppressive fire on the enemy. As he continued raking the hostile positions with devastating fire, he was mortally wounded by an exploding rocket-propelled grenade. Specialist Five Cornwell’s courage 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, II Field Force Vietnam General Orders No. 1930 (7 August 1969)