Rank: Private First Class
Unit: I Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist
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: Valorous Unit Award, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Note: 1st platoon
Enlisted by: Regular
Date of birth: 2-Feb-1947
Hometown: Lakewood, New York
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: Jun-1966
Start of tour: 27-Oct-1967
Incident date: 14-Feb-1968
Date of casualty: 14-Feb-1968
Age at death: 21
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Grenade. Multiple fragmentation wounds.
Randall John Gustafson died from wounds received while on combat operation when engaged hostile force in firefight.
Three Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
PFC Randall John Gustafson
SGT Vitalio Vela Jr
PFC Joseph Robert Weaver Jr
Location of fatality: Binh Duong, South Vietnam
Place of interment: Sunset Hill Cemetery, Lakewood, New York, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS RANDALL JOHN GUSTAFSON
14 FEBRUARY 1968
I TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Private First Class Gustafson distinguished himself by valorous actions on 14 February 1968, while serving as a Machine Gunner with Troop I, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, on a joint operation with elements of the 9th Infantry Division near the village of Cau Dat. The friendly force suddenly began receiving intense recoilless rifle, automatic weapons, and small arms fire from a concealed Viet Cong force of unknown size. As the platoon maneuvered against the fortified positions, Private Gustafson’s track was struck by an anti-tank round, causing it to burst into flames and seriously wounding several crew members. Private Gustafson immediately braved hostile fire to run to another assault vehicle for a fire extinguisher. Using it to diminish the flames, he showed complete disregard for his own safety by entering the burning vehicle to extract the wounded. After personally carrying the casualties to a place where they could receive medical attention, Private Gustafson returned to the vehicle to return fire upon the enemy. While courageously firing his weapon, he was mortally wounded by fragments from a second anti-tank round. Private First Class Gustafson’s 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. 1561 (21 March 1968)