Rank: Specialist 4
Unit: F Troop, 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist
Awards: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct 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: Regular
Date of birth: 14-Nov-1946
Hometown: Santa Monica, California
Marital status: Married to Martha M. Esparza, one son
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 30-Apr-1970
Start of tour: 6-Oct-1970
Incident date: 28-May-1971
Date of casualty: 28-May-1971
Age at death: 24
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Unknown. Misadventure.
Joseph David Esparza was killed while at a night defensive position (NDP) when the area came under mortar attack by a hostile force. / Individual was at night defensive position (NDP), received hostile mortar attack.
Two Blackhorse troopers died as a result of this incident:
SP4 Joseph David Esparza
SP5 Kimber Lynn Hall
Location of fatality: Hua Nghia, South Vietnam, XT 559 275
Place of interment: Los Angeles National Cemetery, Los Angeles, California, USA
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