Rank: Private First Class
Unit: B Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device and Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge
Unit awards: Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: Selected Service
Date of birth: 30-Mar-1947
Hometown: Lindenhurst, New York
Marital status: Married to Lorraine A. Eriksen
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 19-Jun-1968
Start of tour: 7-Dec-1968
Incident date: 7-Jun-1969
Date of casualty: 7-Jun-1969
Age at death: 22
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Grenade. Multiple fragmentation wounds.
Alf Edward Eriksen was killed while a passenger on a military vehicle on a combat operation when a hostile force was encountered. / Gunner on Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle (ACAV) on combat operation when engaged hostile force in firefight.
Two Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
PFC Alf Edward Eriksen
SGT Kenneth Joseph Pitre
Location of fatality: Long Khanh, South Vietnam, YT 614 064
Place of interment: Long Island National Cemetery, East Farmingdale, New York, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE AND OAK LEAF CLUSTER
POSTHUMOUS
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ALF EDWARD ERIKSEN
7 JUNE 1969
B TROOP, 1st SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Private First Class Eriksen distinguished himself by heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force on 7 June 1969 while serving as a machine gunner with Troop B, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date while on a reconnaissance-in-force operation, the troop came under intense small arms, automatic weapons, mortar, and rocket propelled grenade fire from a well-concealed enemy force. After quickly determining the source of the heaviest hostile fire, Private Eriksen unhesitatingly began an assault on the well-defended enemy emplacements. His quick response and accurate machine gun fire effectively pinned down several enemy rocket-propelled grenade teams that were threatening the troop’s left flank. He continued raking the hostile positions with devastating fire until he was mortally wounded by an impacting rocket-propelled grenade. Private First Class Eriksen’s outstanding 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. 1774 (18 July 1969)