Rank: Private First Class
Unit: K Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11B – Infantryman
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge
Unit awards: Meritorious Unit Citation, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Note: Operation Akron
Enlisted by: Selected Service
Date of birth: 29-Sep-1946
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: Unknown
Entered service: 19-Apr-1965
Start of tour: 13-Dec-1966
Incident date: 19-Jun-1967
Date of casualty: 19-Jun-1967
Age at death: 20
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Grenade. Multiple fragmentation wounds. Individual was on ambush patrol when unit engaged hostile force in firefight.
Ten Blackhorse troopers died as a result of this incident:
SP4 Raymond Desmond Crowder Jr
SP4 William Jerry Dillon
PFC Edward Lee Fails Jr
SP4 Russell Louis Filiberti
SP4 Blaine Wilson Landers
PFC Bobby Louis Murphy
PFC Charles Howard Richards Jr
SSG Wayne Thomas Schumacher
SP5 William Norman Scott
PFC Leonard Vito Tedesco
Location of fatality: Phuoc Tuy, South Vietnam, Slope 30
Place of interment: Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS EDWARD LEE FAILS JR
19 JUNE 1967
L TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Private First Class Fails distinguished himself by valorous actions on 1 June 1967, while serving as a rifleman on an ambush patrol in the jungles of Vietnam. Suddenly, Private Fails alertly detected enemy movement and unhesitantly directed a heavy volume of suppressive fire upon the Viet Cong. Immediately, counterfire from the numerically superior force severely injured Private Fails, but heroically refusing to leave his post, he fearlessly resumed firing upon the fanatical attackers. Ignoring his wounds, Private Fails courageously exposed himself to the well-armed insurgents in order to suppress their forward movement and enable friendly elements to maneuver against the Viet Cong. As the fierce firefight intensified, Private Fails received additional shrapnel injuries yet bravely continued to fight. As the Viet Cong assaulted the position again, Private Fails fearlessly remained exposed and fired point blank at the onrushing insurgents. At that instant, Private Fails was mortally wounded by a burst of enemy fire. Private First Class Fails’ personal bravery 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, 9th Infantry Division General Orders No. 3062 (6 July 1967)