VIETNAM - ESPARZA, JOSEPH DAVID

Esparza, Joseph David

VIETNAM - ESPARZA, JOSEPH DAVID
ESPARZA, JOSEPH DAVID

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

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

Vietnam Veterans Memorial panel and row: 03W 057 (view Vietnam Veterans Memorial link in a new window)