Rank: Private First Class
Unit: K Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist
Awards: Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal with 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: Selected Service
Date of birth: 7-Aug-1949
Hometown: Woodlawn, Tennessee
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 20-May-1969
Start of tour: 17-Oct-1969
Incident date: 10-Jan-1970
Date of casualty: 11-Jan-1970
Age at death: 20
Cause of death: Hostile, died of wounds. Small Arms Fire. Gun or small arms fire.
Michael Edward Darnell died as a result of wounds received while gunner on a military vehicle at a night defensive position when the area came under attack by a hostile force. He was admitted to a military medical facility and later expired. / Gunner on Armored Cavalry Assualt Vehicle (ACAV) at night defensive position. Engaged hostile force in firefight. Admitted to 24th Evacuation Hospital 10 Jan 1970 at 0800 hrs and placed on Very Serious Injury (VSI) list 10 Jan 1970 at 1200 hrs and later expired. Incident occurred on 10 Jan 1970 at 0530 hrs.
Location of fatality: Tay Ninh, South Vietnam, XT 540 842
Place of interment: Wilees Chapel United Methodist Cemetery, Woodlawn, Tennessee, USA
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