Rank: Specialist 4
Unit: Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 67N – Utility Helicopter Repairer
Awards: Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with Valor Device and Eight Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Unit awards: Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Note: UH-1C, Tail # 66-00525, Crew Chief
Enlisted by: Regular
Date of birth: 1-Dec-1948
Hometown: Bellevue, Washington
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 5-Jun-1968
Start of tour: 11-Dec-1968
Incident date: 18-Jun-1969
Date of casualty: 18-Jun-1969
Age at death: 20
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Helicopter Crash — Crew (MC). Aircraft loss, crash not at sea. Individual was killed while crew chief of a military aircraft on a military mission when the aircraft received hostile weapons fire, crashed and burned. / Crew chief of UH-1C aircraft on visual reconnaissance mission. Aircraft received hostile ground fire and crashed and burned.
Three Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
SP4 Enrique Thomas Enrico
SGT Hollis Gregory Miller
SGT Robert Louis Mingle
Location of fatality: Binh Long, South Vietnam, XT 701 856
Place of interment: Sunset Hills Memorial Park, Bellevue, Washington, USA
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DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS
POSTHUMOUS
SPECIALIST FOUR ENRIQUE THOMAS ENRICO
18 JUNE 1969
AIR CAVALRY TROOP
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Specialist Four Enrico distinguished himself for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary action above and beyond the call of duty on 18 June 1969, while serving as a helicopter crew chief with the Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, while participating in an aerial reconnaissance operation, Specialist Enrico spotted nine enemy soldiers moving below. As it circled the area, the aircraft came under intense hostile small arms and automatic weapons fire. Disregarding the enemy fusillade, Specialist Enrico leaned out the door of the helicopter to place suppressive fire on the hostile positions and mark them with smoke grenades for helicopter gunship assaults. As he returned the hostile fire and the enemy resistance increased, the aircraft was suddenly hit by a burst of automatic weapons fire and crashed, fatally injuring him. Specialist Four Enrico’s courage and devotion to duty 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. 1766 (July 18, 1969)
SILVER STAR
POSTHUMOUS
SPECIALIST FOUR ENRIQUE THOMAS ENRICO
17 JUNE 1969
AIR CAVALRY TROOP
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Specialist Four Enrico distinguished himself for gallantry in action in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 17 June 1969, while serving as a helicopter crew chief and door gunner with the Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, while flying in the troop commander’s aircraft, Specialist Enrico spotted enemy activity below. As the pilot made a low-level pass over the area, the helicopter suddenly began receiving intense automatic weapons fire. Disregarding the hostile fusillade, Specialist Enrico immediately began placing suppressive fire on the enemy positions. As the aircraft continued making passes over the hostile elements, he leaned far out the door in order to pinpoint the enemy positions and mark them with smoke grenades. While the aircraft waited for the helicopter gunships to arrive, Specialist Enrico continued to rake the hostile emplacements with machine gun fire and killed four enemy troops. Because of his accurate placement of smoke grenades, the gunships were able to quickly silence the hostile positions. Specialist Four Enrico’s outstanding courage, alertness and devotion to duty 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. 1932 (August 7, 1969)
AIR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE AND OAK LEAF CLUSTER
POSTHUMOUS
SPECIALIST FOUR ENRIQUE THOMAS ENRICO
2 JUNE 1969
AIR CAVALRY TROOP
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Specialist Four Enrico distinguished himself by heroism while participating in aerial flight on 2 June 1969 while serving as a helicopter crew chief with the Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date while Specialist Enrico was serving on the troop’s command and control helicopter, approximately twelve enemy soldiers were sighted moving below. As the aircraft descended to engage the hostile element, he leaned out the door to place effective suppressive fire on the enemy troops. In spite of the intense hostile fire that was immediately directed at the aircraft, he continued to rake the hostile positions and marked them with smoke grenades for helicopter gunship assaults. After the assaults had been completed, Specialist Enrico resumed his suppressive fire on the enemy and kept the hostile element pinned down until a friendly ground force arrived and overran the enemy positions. Specialist Four Enrico’s courage and devotion to duty 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. 1776 (18 July 1969)