Rank: Sergeant
Unit: M Company, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11B – Infantryman
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, Purple Heart Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device, 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: Regular
Date of birth: 28-Feb-1948
Hometown: Swannanoa, North Carolina
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 2-Jul-1968
Start of tour: 22-Feb-1970
Incident date: 14-Nov-1970
Date of casualty: 14-Nov-1970
Age at death: 22
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Explosive Device. Other explosive device.
Bruce Clinton Elkins was killed while at a night defensive position when mine detonated. / At night defensive position, detonated hostile mine.
Location of fatality: Binh Duong, South Vietnam, XT 895 297
Place of interment: Mountain View Memorial Park, Black Mountain, North Carolina, USA
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ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
SPECIALIST FIVE BRUCE CLINTON ELKINS
19 JUNE 1970
M COMPANY, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Specialist Five Elkins distinguished himself by heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force on 19 June 1970 while serving with Company M, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Specialist Elkins was a member of a mine sweep team that was suddenly engaged by an enemy force of unknown size. He immediately commenced fire with his individual weapon and then directed the armored vehicles toward the concealed enemy positions. Specialist Five Elkins’ actions 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. 4321 (16 November 1970)