Rank: Sergeant
Unit: A Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
Awards: Silver Star, 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
Note: 2nd platoon, A-22
Enlisted by: Regular
Date of birth: 6-Dec-1946
Hometown: Worcester, Massachusetts
Marital status: Married to Mary M. Daly, one daughter
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: Unknown
Start of Tour: Unknown
Incident date: 18-Jul-1968
Date of casualty: 12-Oct-1973
Age at death: 26
Cause of Death: Hostile, died of wounds. Died Of Wounds. Multiple fragmentation wounds.
Richard Edward Daly Jr was wounded while a passenger on military vehicle on combat operation when engaged hostile force in firefight. After being wounded, he was evacuated to a military hospital in Japan, then moved to the Chelsea Naval Hospital, Chelsea, MA, in August 1968. Individual was eventually medically discharged. He would expire on 12 Oct 1973 as a result of woulds received on 18 Jul 1968.
Four Blackhorse troopers died as a result of this incident:
SGT Richard Edward Daly Jr
PFC Raymond Conrad Hanik
SGT Allen Curtis Sheline
SP4 Kurt Eugene Ward
Location of fatality: Unknown, South Vietnam
Place of interment: Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton, Massachusetts, USA
View this soldier‘s Find a Grave page (opens in a new window)
Vietnam Veterans Memorial panel and row: 51W 11 (view Vietnam Veterans Memorial link in a new window)
Richard Edward Daly was added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Veterans Day, November 11, 2005.
SILVER STAR
SGT RICHARD EDWARD DALY JR
18 JULY 1968
A TROOP, 1st SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Sergeant Daly distinguished himself for gallantry in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 18 July 1968, while serving as an armored cavalry assault vehicle commander with Troop A, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, during a mounted sweep operation through dense rubber trees, the column led by Sergeant Daily’s vehicle was engaged by a North Vietnamese Army patrol using small arms, automatic weapons and anti-tank rockets. He quickly assessed the situation and, without hesitation, began to assault the enemy positions from which the greatest volume of fire was being directed. Sergeant Daily continued his assault until he had broken through the enemy lines. His fearless actions largely accounted for the successful result of the battle. Sergeant Daily’s quick thinking while under hostile fire, unwavering devotion to duty and personal bravery 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. 1420 (October 8, 1968)