Rank: Specialist 4
Unit: K 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: Meritorious Unit Citation, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Note: Operation Akron
Enlisted by: Selected Service
Date of birth: 29-May-1945
Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri
Marital status: Married to Mary Landers
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Start of tour: 23-Aug-1966
Incident date: 19-Jun-1967
Date of casualty: 19-Jun-1967
Age at death: 22
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Small Arms Fire. Gun or small arms fire.
Blaine Wilson Landers was on ambush patrol when unit engaged a hostile force in firefight.
Ten Blackhorse troopers died as a result of this incident:
SP4 Raymond Desmond Crowder Jr
SP4 William Jerry Dillon
PFC Edward Lee Fails Jr
SP4 Russell Louis Filiberti
SP4 Blaine Wilson Landers
PFC Bobby Louis Murphy
PFC Charles Howard Richards Jr
SSG Wayne Thomas Schumacher
SP5 William Norman Scott
PFC Leonard Vito Tedesco
Location of fatality: Phuoc Tuy, South Vietnam, Slope 30
Place of interment: Mount Moriah Cemetery, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
SPECIALIST FOUR BLAINE WILSON LANDERS
19 JUNE 1967
K TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Specialist Four Landers distinguished himself by valorous actions on 19 June 1967, while participating in an ambush patrol approximately 400 meters from the night perimeter of main force. In the early morning hours, Specialist Landers alertly detected enemy movement, and realizing that the defense of the Command Post depended upon his actions, courageously engaged the enemy. Directing a devastating volley of automatic weapons fire upon the enemy, he effectively dispersed and confused the numerically superior insurgent force. As the Viet Cong rallied and attacked his position, Specialist Landers was wounded by shrapnel fragments, yet he remained at his post. Wave after wave of desperate enemy soldiers charged, wounding him repeatedly. Finally, his weapon destroyed by an insurgent hand grenade, Specialist Landers crawled to a position where he could further direct fire with his personal weapon. At this time, Specialist Landers was mortally wounded by hostile fire. Specialist Four Landees’ 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, 9th Infantry Division General Orders No. 3068 (6 July 1967)