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: Presidential Unit Citation, Valorous Unit Award, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: Selected Service
Date of birth: 6-May-1943
Hometown: Hanska, Minnesota
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Start of tour: 8-Oct-1967
Incident date: 28-Mar-1968
Date of casualty: 28-Mar-1968
Age at death: 24
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Small Arms Fire. Gun or small arms fire.
Larry Clarence Kyar died from wound received while on a combat operation when unit came under hostile small arms fire.
Location of fatality: Hua Nghia, South Vietnam, XT 429 134
Place of interment: Home Cemetery, Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
SPECIALIST FOUR LARRY CLARENCE KYAR
28 MARCH 1968
L TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Specialist Four Kyar distinguished himself by valorous actions on 28 March 1968, while serving as a Machine Gunner on an armored cavalry assault vehicle with Troop L, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, on a reconnaissance in force mission near Duc Hoa, Vietnam. When his platoon’s armored column was taken under heavy fire by enemy antitank, automatic, and semiautomatic weapons, several of the crewmen on Specialist Kyar’s track were hit and wounded. He immediately applied first aid to the casualties, radioed for a medical evacuation helicopter, and then climbed atop the armored cavalry assault vehicle to man his machine gun. Completely disregarding his own personal safety, Specialist Kyar directed a heavy volume of fire in all directions to suppress the onrushing insurgents who were trying to overrun his disabled vehicle. Specialist Kyar successfully kept the enemy at bay until his wounded comrades could be evacuated and a new driver installed. As the vehicle began to maneuver out of the hazardous zone of fire, Specialist Kyar was struck and killed by an enemy bullet. Specialist Four Kyar’s personal bravery 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, 9th Infantry Division General Orders No. 2573 (20 April 1968)