Rank: Specialist 5
Unit: E Troop, 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11E – Armor Crewman
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, 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: 10-Nov-1948
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 28-Oct-1970
Start of tour: 24-May-1971
Incident date: 22-Aug-1971
Date of casualty: 22-Aug-1971
Age at death: 22
Cause of death: Hostile, Died. Small Arms Fire. Gun or small arms fire.
Billy Wayne Disheroon was killed while he was moving into a night defensive position when the area came under attack by a hostile force.
Two Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
SP5 Billy Wayne Disheroon
SP4 David Wayne Frady
Location of fatality: Binh Thuy, South Vietnam, XT 924 239
Place of interment: Grove Hill Memorial Park, Dallas, Texas, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
SPECIALIST FIVE BILLY WAYNE DISHEROON
22 AUGUST 1971
E TROOP, 2nd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Specialist Five Disheroon distinguished himself on 22 August 1971 while serving as an M551 Armored Reconnaissance Airborne Assault Vehicle Commander. On the afternoon of that date, Specialist Five Disheroon’s platoon was performing a security mission in order to establish a new night defensive position, when the rest of the troop was engaged by an enemy force located in well-fortified bunkers. Upon hearing the contact, Specialist Five Disheroon volunteered to move into the contact area. Although knowing the danger involved, Specialist Five Disheroon disregarded his personal safety and moved his vehicle in a line formation into the contact area. While moving into the heaviest point of contact, he placed a heavy volume of suppressive fire on the enemy positions. Specialist Five Disheroon showed superior courage and continued to maneuver his combat vehicle so it could most effectively combat the hostile forces until he was killed by hostile fire. His gallant efforts enabled his platoon to inflict heavy casualties upon the enemy while minimizing the friendly losses. At the cost of his life, Specialist Five Disheroon’s personal bravery 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, United States Army Vietnam General Orders No. 3127 (5 November 1971)