VIETNAM - GUSTAFSON, RANDALL JOHN

Gustafson, Randall John

VIETNAM - GUSTAFSON, RANDALL JOHN
GUSTAFSON, RANDALL JOHN

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

View this soldier‘s Find a Grave page (opens in a new window)

Vietnam Veterans Memorial panel and row: 39E 033 (view Vietnam Veterans Memorial link in a new window)

 

BRONZE STAR MEDAL

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)