Rank: Private First Class
Unit: B Troop, 1st 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: Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
nlisted by: Regular
Date of birth: 16-Mar-1950
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 29-Nov-1967
Start of tour: 24-Jun-1968
Incident date: 18-Jul-1968
Date of casualty: 18-Jul-1968
Age at death: 18
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Grenade. Multiple fragmentation wounds.
Raymond Conrad Hanik died from wounds received while gunner on military vehicle on combat operation when engaged hostile force in firefight.
Four Blackhorse troopers died as a result of this incident:
SGT Richard Edward Daly Jr
PFC Raymond Conrad Hanik
SGT Allen Curtis Sheline
SP4 Kurt Eugene Ward
Location of fatality: Binh Thuy, South Vietnam
Place of interment: Resurrection Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleums, Justice, Illinois, USA
View this soldier‘s Find a Grave page (opens in a new window)
BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS RAYMOND CONRAD HANIK
18 JULY 1968
B TROOP, 1st SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Private First Class Hanik distinguished himself by heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force on 18 July 1968 while serving as an armored cavalry assault vehicle driver with Troop B, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Private Hanik’s unit made contact with an unknown-size force of Viet Cong. During the fierce firelight which followed, Specialist Hanik’s vehicle received several direct hits from rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire. After maneuvering his vehicle into a position from which he could better engage the enemy forces, Private Hanik, totally disregarded his own personal safety and exposed himself to the heavy concentration of enemy small arms, automatic weapons and rocket fire to bring highly accurate suppressive fire upon the enemy forces. While delivering his deadly fire upon the hostile elements, Private Hanik was mortally wounded. Private First Class Hanik’s deep concern for the welfare of his comrades and personal bravery under hostile fire 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, II Field Force Vietnam General Orders No. 971 (17 August 1968)