Rank: Specialist 5
Unit: M Company, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11E – Armor Crewman
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, Purple Heart Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device, 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: 25-Oct-1949
Hometown: Pukwana, South Dakota
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 27-Mar-1967
Start of tour: 8-Aug-1968
Incident date: 14-Feb-1970
Date of casualty: 14-Feb-1970
Age at death: 20
Cause of death: Hostile, died of wounds. Grenade. Multiple fragmentation wounds.
Samuel Joseph Jorgensen died as the result of wounds received while gunner on a military vehicle on a combat operation when a hostile force was encountered. He was admitted to a military medical facility and later expired. / Main gunner on M-48 tank on reconnaissance mission. Engaged hostile force in firefight. Admitted to 45th Surgical Hospital, 14 Feb 1970 at 1800 hrs and later expired. Incident occurred 14 Feb 1970 at 1700 hrs.
Three Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
SP5 Samuel Joseph Jorgensen
SP4 Wayne Dabney McRay
SFC Clarence C. Young
Location of fatality: Tay Ninh, South Vietnam, XT 256 693
Place of interment: Riverview Cemetery, Chamberlain, South Dakota, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
SPECIALIST FIVE SAMUEL JOSEPH JORGENSEN
14 FEBRUARY 1970
M COMPANY, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Specialist Five Jorgensen distinguished himself by heroism in connection with ground operations against a hostile force on 14 February 1970 while serving as a loader with Company M, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date Troop C, with Specialist Jorgensen’s platoon attached, was summoned to aid an infantry unit who had engaged a well-entrenched enemy force. Upon arrival at the scene of contact, the tanks began to assault the enemy bunkers but could not employ their main guns due to the close proximity of the friendly troops. While his platoon advanced upon the bunkers, despite the deadly enemy barrage of rocket propelled grenade, small arms and automatic weapons fire, Specialist Jorgensen placed accurate suppressive fire upon the enemy, silencing two bunkers. Even though seriously wounded when his vehicle was struck by a rocket propelled grenade, Specialist Jorgensen continued to fight, placing an intense volley of fire upon the enemy. When his vehicle was again struck by a rocket propelled grenade, the crew was forced to evacuate. Specialist Five Jorgensen’s actions 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. 1567 (14 April 1970)