Rank: Corporal
Unit: I Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, Purple Heart Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device and Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge
Unit awards: Valorous Unit Award, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: Selected Service
Date of birth: 27-Oct-1945
Hometown: Lubbock, Texas
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 22-Oct-1968
Start of tour: 25-Apr-1969
Incident date: 12-Sep-1969
Date of casualty: 21-Sep-1969
Age at death: 23
Cause of death: Hostile, died of wounds. Unknown. Other causes.
Larry Wayne Dennis died as a result of wounds received while driver of a military vehicle on a combat operation when a mine detonated. He was admitted to a military medical facility and later expired. / Driver of Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) on reconnaissance in force mission. Vehicle hit hostile mine. Individual admitted to 2d Surgical Hospital, Lai Khe, on 12 Sep 1969 at 1110 hrs, and placed on Serious Injured (SI) list on 12 Sep 1969 at 1730 hrs, taken off SI list and placed on Very Serious Injured (VSI) list on 15 Sep 1969 at 1230 hrs and later expired. Incident occurred on 12 Sep 1969 at 0949 hrs.
Location of fatality: Binh Long, South Vietnam, XT 711 836
Place of interment: Resthaven Memorial Park, Lubbock, Texas, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS LARRY WAYNE DENNIS
12 SEPTEMBER 1969
I TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Private First Class Dennis distinguished himself by heroism in connection with ground operations against a hostile force on 12 September 1969 while serving as an armored cavalry assault vehicle driver with Troop I, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date Private Dennis volunteered to drive his vehicle through a known enemy minefield in pursuit of enemy forces. Advancing at the head of the friendly element, his assault vehicle struck a large antitank mine, damaging the tank and severely wounding him in the legs and hands. Private First Class Dennis’ actions were in keeping with the finest 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. 3409 (27 October 1969)
ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS LARRY WAYNE DENNIS
19 JUNE 1969
M COMPANY, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Private First Class Dennis distinguished himself by heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force on 19 June 1969 while serving as a loader with Company M, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date while the company was conducting a reconnaissance operation with one of the squadron’s troops, his tank was heavily damaged when it detonated an enemy mine. Immediately, he and another crew member dismounted in order to hook their vehicle to another which had come to their aid. While they were attaching a cable to their tank, they suddenly came under intense automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenade fire. Private Dennis and his comrade quickly retaliated with accurate rifle fire. When several assault vehicles had maneuvered into position to place suppressive fire on the hostile emplacements, Private Dennis exposed himself to the enemy fusillade in order to move a number of wounded comrades to safety and give them medical assistance. Private First Class Dennis’ courage, devotion to duty and concern for the welfare of his fellow soldiers 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. 2144 (26 August 1969)