Rank: Specialist 4
Unit: Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 12A – Pioneer
Awards: Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Unit awards: Valorous Unit Award, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: Regular
Date of birth: 17-May-1950
Hometown: San Diego, California
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 16-Dec-1968
Start of tour: 7-May-1970
Incident date: 25-Aug-1970
Date of casualty: 25-Aug-1970
Age at death: 20
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Small Arms Fire. Gun or small arms fire.
Robert Edmund Koonce was killed while on a combat operation when a hostile force was encountered. / On dismounted reconnaissance mission. Engaged hostile force in firefight.
Three Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
SP4 Robert Edmund Koonce
SGT John Daniel Malcolm
SP4 Jerrold Louis Vesey
Location of fatality: Binh Duong, South Vietnam, XT 933 310
Place of interment: Greenwood Memorial Park, San Diego, California, USA
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SILVER STAR
POSTHUMOUS
SPECIALIST FOUR ROBERT EDMUND KOONCE
25 AUGUST 1970
AIR CAVALRY TROOP
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Specialist Fourth Koonce distinguished himself by gallantry in actions while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Specialist Four Koonce distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 25 August 1970 while serving as a rifleman with Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Specialist Koonce was acting as the lead man of his element when the suddenly came under intense automatic weapons fire from approximately fifteen North Vietnamese soldiers. In the initial moments of contact the squad leader was wounded and Specialist Koonce immediately proceeded to move him to safety and render first aid to him. As he was assisting his wounded comrade, Specialist Koonce was mortally wounded by the enemy fire. Specialist Four Koonce’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. 3760 (14 September 1970)