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
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