VIETNAM - ELKINS, BRUCE CLINTON

Elkins, Bruce Clinton

VIETNAM - ELKINS, BRUCE CLINTON
ELKINS, BRUCE CLINTON

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

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

Vietnam Veterans Memorial panel and row: 06W 059 (view Vietnam Veterans Memorial link in a new window)

 

ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL

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)