VIETNAM - KREUTZ, KENNETH JOSEPH

Kreutz, Kenneth Joseph

VIETNAM - KREUTZ, KENNETH JOSEPH
KREUTZ, KENNETH JOSEPH

Rank: Specialist 4

Unit: L Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment

MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist

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

Enlisted by: Selected Service

Date of birth: 6-Dec-1946

Hometown: Ferguson, Missouri

Marital status: Never Married

Campaign: Vietnam Conflict

Entered service: 18-Apr-1968

Start of tour: 28-Aug-1968

Incident date: 9-Jun-1969

Date of casualty: 9-Jun-1969

Age at death: 22

Cause of death: Hostile, died. Small Arms Fire. Gun or small arms fire.
Kenneth Joseph Kreutz was killed while commander of a military vehicle on a combat operation when a hostile force was encountered. / Track commander of Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle (ACAV) on reconnaissance in force mission.  Engaged hostile force in firefight.

Two Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
SP4 Kenneth Joseph Kreutz
SP4 Samuel Lee Young

Location of fatality: Binh Long, South Vietnam, XT 704 915

Place of interment: Calvary Cemetery and Mausoleum, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA

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

Vietnam Veterans Memorial panel and row: 22W 003 (view Vietnam Veterans Memorial link in a new window)

 

BRONZE STAR MEDAL

BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS

SPECIALIST FOUR KENNETH JOSEPH KREUTZ
9 JUNE 1969
L TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT

Specialist Four Kreutz distinguished himself by heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force on 9 June 1969 while serving as an armored vehicle commander with Troop L, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date while on a reconnaissance-in-force operation, the troop suddenly came under intense automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenade fire from well-concealed enemy troops positioned on both sides of the friendly armored column. Seeing that his platoon leader had been wounded in the initial burst of hostile fire, Specialist Kreutz quickly assessed the situation and began an assault on the enemy positions in an attempt to suppress the enemy barrage. Although several of his fellow crew members had already been wounded and he knew that he could rely only on the fire from his heavy machine gun, he continued his relentless advance and covered the hostile positions with devastating suppressive fire until he was mortally wounded by an impacting enemy rocket-propelled grenade. Specialist Four Kreutz’s courage 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, II Field Force Vietnam General Orders No. 1773 (18 July 1969)