Rank: Specialist 4
Unit: K Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11B – Infantryman
Awards: 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: 28-Sep-1945
Hometown: Astoria, New York
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Start of tour: 23-Aug-1966
Incident date: 19-Jun-1967
Date of casualty: 19-Jun-1967
Age at death: 21
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Grenade. Multiple fragmentation wounds.
Russell Louis Filiberti was on combat operation when 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: Calvary Cemetery, Woodside, New York, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
SPECIALIST FOUR RUSSELL LOUIS FILIBERTI
19 JUNE 1967
C TROOP, 1st SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Specialist Four Filiberti distinguished himself by valorous actions on 19 June 1967, while serving as a machine gunner, participating in an ambush patrol. The patrol was situated approximately 400 meters from friendly positions, and as night closed in, Specialist Filiberti and fellow soldiers lay in wait. In the early morning hours, Specialist Filiberti alertly detected enemy movement and fired as the insurgents advanced toward his position. The Viet Cong returned fire, critically injuring Specialist Filiberti. Disregarding the pain of his wounds, he fearlessly resumed firing and effectively suppressed further movement toward his position. Specialist Filiberti continued to fire upon the enemy until a hostile rifle grenade, destroyed his machine gun, injuring him once again. At this time, he drew his personal weapon and fired into the numerically superior enemy force until he was cut down by hostile rounds. Specialist Four Filiberti’s 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, 9th Infantry Division General Orders No. 3704 (7 July 1967)