Rank: Private First Class
Unit: Howitzer Battery, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 13D – Field Artillery Rocket Crewman
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Unit awards: Valorous Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Citation, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Note: Forward Observer attached to L Troop, 3/11 ACR
Enlisted by: Selected Service
Date of birth: 31-Aug-1945
Hometown: New York, New York
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: Unknown
Start of tour: 12-Jan-1967
Incident date: 21-Jul-1967
Date of casualty: 21-Jul-1967
Age at death: 21
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Small Arms Fire. Gun or small arms fire.
George Arthur Foster as a result of a gunshot wound received while a passenger in a military convoy.
Fourteen Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
CPT William Forman Abernethy
PFC James Francis Bean
PFC John Joseph Campa
PFC Roosevelt C. Curley
SP4 Lawrence Michael Dawson
PFC George Arthur Foster
PVT Thomas Francis Ganion
PFC Douglas Wayne Hill
PFC Frank Daniel Leal
PFC Gary Alfred McLennan
PFC Billy Gene Rodgers
SP4 Richard James Schutz
1LT Ponder Ray Sims
PFC James Lemar Whitfield
Location of fatality: Long Khanh, South Vietnam, YT 430 308
Place of interment: Long Island National Cemetery, East Farmingdale, New York, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS GEORGE ARTHUR FOSTER JR
21 JULY 1967
HOWITZER BATTERY, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Private First Class Foster distinguished himself by valorous actions on 21 July 1967 while participating in a search and secure mission near Xa Binh Boa, Republic of Vietnam. As the lead troop was entering its assigned sector of security, it came under heavy anti-tank and automatic weapons fire from an undetermined number of Viet Cong. Reacting instantly, Private Foster began evasive movements in a valiant attempt to pass the main concentration of enemy fire. As he skillfully maneuvered his vehicle through a series of sharp turns, reverse movements, and irregular forward speeds, a recoilless rifle round pierced the vehicle and critically injured Private Foster. Undaunted, he doggedly remained at his post and continued to bewilder and disperse the Viet Cong through expert evasive movements. When it became necessary to halt the vehicle in order to accurately adjust friendly artillery concentrations, he courageously stopped in such a manner that the front of the vehicle received the brunt of the intense enemy fire, thereby providing protection for the vehicle’s occupants, At that moment, the vehicle received several anti-tank rounds that mortally wounded Private Foster. His bravery, spirited aggressiveness, and deep concern for the welfare of his comrades at the cost of his man life was commendable and worthy of recognition. Private First Class Foster’s courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, and the United States Army.
Headquarters, 9th Infantry Division General Orders No. 3854 (4 August 1967)