Rank: Sergeant First Class
Unit: I Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device and Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge, Drill Sergeant Badge, Driver‘s Badge
Unit awards: Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: Regular
Date of birth: 9-Jun-1937
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 10-Feb-1956
Start of tour: 26-Sep-1968
Incident date: 17-Feb-1969
Date of casualty: 17-Feb-1969
Age at death: 31
Cause of death: Hostile, died of wounds. Small Arms Fire. Gun or small arms fire.
Richard Marvin Kulavik died from wound received while on combat operation when engaged hostile force in firefight. Individual was admitted to a military medical facility and expired shortly thereafter. / On ambush patrol when engaged hostile force in firefight.
Two Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
SGT Robert James Hall
SFC Richard Marvin Kulavik
Location of fatality: Binh Duong, South Vietnam, XT 806 253
Place of interment: Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
View this soldier‘s Find a Grave page (opens in a new window)
BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
SERGEANT FIRST CLASS RICHARD MARVIN KULAVIK
17 FEBRUARY 1969
I TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Sergeant First Class Kulavik distinguished himself by heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force on 17 February 1969 while serving as platoon sergeant with Troop I, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date when a dismounted ambush patrol engaged an enemy force and encountered heavy resistance, Sergeant Kulavik immediately led his mounted reaction force to the area of the fierce firefight. In spite of the rugged terrain that made it difficult for him to maneuver his assault vehicle, he placed devastating suppressive fire on the hostile force. Upon learning that several of the petrol members had been wounded, he coordinated the evacuation of the casualties. He continued directing the assault and providing suppressive fire until he was mortally wounded by hostile fire. Sergeant First Class Kulavik’s outstanding courage, deep concern for the welfare of his men and unwavering 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. 932 (10 April 1969)