VIETNAM - D'AMBRA, JOSEPH NICK

D’Ambra, Joseph Nick

VIETNAM - D'AMBRA, JOSEPH NICK
D’AMBRA, JOSEPH NICK

Rank: Specialist 4

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

MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist

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

Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge

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

Note: 1st platoon

Enlisted by: Selected Service

Date of birth: 10-May-1947

Hometown: Franklin Square, New York

Marital status: Never Married

Campaign: Vietnam Conflict

Start of tour: 31-Oct-1967

Incident date: 9-May-1968

Date of casualty: 9-May-1968

Age at death: 20

Cause of death: Hostile, Died. Artillery/Mortar/Rocket. Artillery, rocket, or mortar.
Joseph Nick D’Ambra died from fragment wounds received while enroute to a night defensive position when hit by fragments from a hostile anti-tank round.

Three Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
SP4 Joseph Nick D‘Ambra
SGT John Millard Schneider
SP4 Larry Lee Tolliver

Location of fatality: Hua Nghia, South Vietnam

Place of interment: Saint Charles Cemetery, East Farmingdale, New York, USA

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

Vietnam Veterans Memorial panel and row: 57E 018 (view Vietnam Veterans Memorial link in a new window)

 

ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL

ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS JOSEPH NICK D’AMBRA
14 FEBRUARY 1968
I TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT

Private First Class D’Ambra distinguished himself on 14 February 1968, while serving as a gunner on an Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle assigned to Troop I, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. Private D’Ambra’s unit went to the aid of an infantry unit that was pinned down by heavy enemy fire. Upon arriving at the battlefield, his unit was hit with an intense volume of antitank, automatic, and semiautomatic weapons fire. When he noticed that his platoon leader was wounded, Private D’Ambra immediately braved the accurate enemy barrage and went to his aid. Evacuating the man to a safe location, Private D’Ambra then delivered suppressive fire on the insurgents, inflicting many casualties and contributing to the success of the mission. Private First Class D’Ambra’s heroic actions are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the Unites States Army.
Headquarters, 9th Infantry Division General Orders No. 2913 (30 April 1968)