Rank: Sergeant
Unit: C Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist
Awards: Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge
Unit awards: Presidential Unit Citation, Valorous Unit Award, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: Reserve
Date of birth: 19-Apr-1944
Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii
Marital status: Married to Laura D. Factora, one son
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: Unknown
Start of tour: 12-Aug-1967
Incident date: 13-May-1968
Date of casualty: 13-May-1968
Age at death: 24
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Grenade. Multiple fragmentation wounds.
Douglas George Factora died from multiple metal fragment wounds received when engaged hostile fore in firefight while on combat operation.
Five Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
SSG Ollis Brewster
SGT Ralph Raymond Collins Jr
SGT Douglas George Factora
SGT Bobby James
CPL Frederick F. Walters
Location of fatality: Hua Nghia, South Vietnam
Place of interment: National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
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DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS
POSTHUMOUS
SERGEANT DOUGLAS GEORGE FACTORA
13 MAY 1968
C TROOP, 1st SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Sergeant Factora distinguished himself for extraordinary heroism in action in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Troop C, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. Sergeant Factora distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 13 May 1968 while serving as an assault vehicle commander during an attack upon a well-fortified enemy position in the vicinity of Cu Chi. Directing highly accurate suppressive fire with his vehicle’s machine gun and hurling hand grenades at the enemy, he was personally responsible for the elimination of several of the hostile emplacements. During the final stages of the assault, Sergeant Factora was seriously wounded and thrown from his vehicle when it was struck by an enemy antitank rocket. Despite the intense pain of his wounds, he remounted the carrier, rallied his crew members, and continued his fierce assault upon the insurgents, destroying several additional enemy positions. Again, Sergeant Factora’s vehicle was hit by an enemy antitank round, seriously wounding several of his crew members and causing the vehicle to burst into flames. Disregarding his own safety and critical injuries, Sergeant Factora removed his disabled comrades from the burning carrier. Only after he was assured that they had been treated and evacuated did he allow evacuation for himself. He died enroute to the hospital. His fearless actions in the face of intense enemy fire were instrumental in the complete overpowering of the insurgent forces. Sergeant Factora’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, 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, United States Army Vietnam General Orders No. 4092 (23 August 1968)