Rank: Specialist 4
Unit: Headquarters & Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 91B – Medical Specialist
Awards: Silver Star, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Unit awards: Presidential Unit Citation, Valorous Unit Award, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Note: Medic attached to A Troop, 1/11 ACR
Enlisted by: Regular
Date of birth: 20-Aug-1944
Hometown: Middletown, Ohio
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 25-Apr-1967
Start of tour: 17-Dec-1967
Incident date: 20-Jun-1968
Date of casualty: 20-Jun-1968
Age at death: 23
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Grenade. Multiple fragmentation wounds.
Thomas Ray Edwards died from wounds received while passenger on military vehicle at command post when engaged hostile force.
Location of fatality: Binh Duong, South Vietnam
Place of interment: Woodside Cemetery, Middletown, Ohio, USA
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SILVER STAR
POSTHUMOUS
SPECIALIST FOUR THOMAS RAY EDWARDS
6 JUNE 1968
HEADQUARTERS AND HEADQUARTERS TROOP, 1st SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Specialist Four Edwards distinguished himself for gallantry in action in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 6 June 1968, while serving as Medical Aidman with Troop A, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Specialist Edwards’ unit was participating in a reconnaissance in force mission when his platoon was suddenly attacked by a heavy concentration of enemy small arms, automatic weapons and anti-tank rocket fire. Observing the lead vehicle receive a direct hit from an enemy rocket, Specialist Edwards, totally disregarding his personal safety, crawled through the intense fire raking the battlefield to aid the wounded members of the crew. After administering first aid to the injured soldiers, Specialist Edwards sprinted 100 meters through the intense hostile fire to administer first aid and to carry him to a medical evacuation point. Specialist Edwards’ unwavering devotion to duty, deep concern for the welfare of his comrades and heroic actions while under hostile fire 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. 896 (August 9, 1968)