VIETNAM - KOONCE, ROBERT EDMUND

Koonce, Robert Edmund

VIETNAM - KOONCE, ROBERT EDMUND
KOONCE, ROBERT EDMUND

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

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

Vietnam Veterans Memorial panel and row: 07W 005 (view Vietnam Veterans Memorial link in a new window)

 

SILVER STAR

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)