Rank: Specialist 4
Unit: E Troop, 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist
Awards: 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
Enlisted by: Regular
Date of birth: 19-Nov-1947
Hometown: Owensboro, Kentucky
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 20-Oct-1966
Start of tour: 5-Apr-1967
Incident date: 3-Feb-1968
Date of casualty: 3-Feb-1968
Age at death: 20
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Grenade. Multiple fragmentation wounds.
Larry Hugh Jones died from fragment wounds received while on combat operation when engaged hostile force in firefight. / (Individual transported to 93rd Evacuation Hospital, Long Binh.)
Two Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
SP4 Don Ray Gilbert
SP4 Larry Hugh Jones
Location of fatality: Bien Hoa, South Vietnam, YT 003 178
Place of interment: Rosehill Elmwood Cemetery, Owensboro, Kentucky, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
SPECIALIST FOUR LARRY HUGH JONES
3 FEBRUARY 1968
E TROOP, 2nd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Specialist Four Jones distinguished himself by valorous actions on 3 February 1968, while serving as a Machine Gunner with Troop E, 2d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, during a reconnaissance in force mission approximately five kilometers north of Bien Hoa. When several infantry elements became pinned down by an estimated two companies of Viet Gong, Specialist Jones’ track was one of the first to speed to their aid. Once at the scene of the fire fight, Specialist Jones directed a devastating barrage of highly accurate suppressive fire upon the enemy. His courageous actions enabled the friendly forces to gain fire superiority in the fierce engagement. While relieving pressure on the pinned-down infantrymen, Specialist Jones was mortally wounded by shrapnel from an ant-tank round. Specialist Four Jones’ 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. 1471 (19 March 1968)