VIETNAM - DURHAM, RHONALD LEE

Durham, Rhonald Lee

VIETNAM - DURHAM, RHONALD LEE
DURHAM, RHONALD LEE

Rank: Captain

Unit: Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment

MOS: 1204 – Armored Reconnaissance Unit Commander

Awards: Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

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

Note: OH-6A, Tail # 65-12946, Pilot
Flight class: 69-40, Fort Wolters, Texas

Enlisted by: Reserve

Date of birth: 12-Dec-1940

Hometown: Somerset, Kentucky

Marital status: Married to Patricia L. Durham, two sons

Campaign: Vietnam Conflict

Entered service: Unknown

Start of tour: 17-Apr-1970

Incident date: 9-May-1970

Date of casualty: 9-May-1970

Age at death: 29

Cause of death: Non-hostile, died of other causes. Helicopter Crash — Crew (MC). Aircraft loss, crash not at sea.
Rhonald Lee Durham was killed while pilot of a military aircraft on a military mission when the aircraft crashed and burned. / While making a visual reconnaissance, the main rotor blades struck one of the large trees. After striking the tree for a short time (second) the aircraft nosed over and crashed to the ground bursting into flames.

Two Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
CPT Rhonald Lee Durham
SGT John Austin Marr

Location of fatality: Cambodia

Place of interment: Mill Springs National Cemetery, Nancy, Kentucky, USA

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

Vietnam Veterans Memorial panel and row: 10W 005 (view Vietnam Veterans Memorial link in a new window)