VIETNAM - LANTZ, GARY LEE

Lantz, Gary Lee

VIETNAM - LANTZ, GARY LEE
LANTZ, GARY LEE

Rank: Sergeant

Unit: B Troop, 1st 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: 5-Apr-1947

Hometown: Barnesville, Minnesota

Marital status: Married to Susan D. Lantz

Campaign: Vietnam Conflict

Entered service: 20-Sep-1966

Start of tour: 20-Aug-1967

Incident date: 16-May-1968

Date of casualty: 16-May-1968

Age at death: 21

Cause of death: Hostile, died. Small Arms Fire. Gun or small arms fire.
Gary Lee Lantz died as a result of gunshot wound received while commander on military vehicle on combat operation when engaged hostile force in firefight.

Location of fatality: Hua Nghia, South Vietnam

Place of interment: Saint Marys Cemetery, Barnesville Township, Minnesota, USA

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

Vietnam Veterans Memorial panel and row: 61E 013 (view Vietnam Veterans Memorial link in a new window)

 

BRONZE STAR MEDAL

BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS

SERGEANT GARY LEE LANTZ
16 MAY 1968
B TROOP, 1st SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT

Sergeant Lantz distinguished himself by valorous actions on 16 May 1968, while serving as an Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle Commander with Troop B, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, on a reconnaissance in force mission against a well-entrenched North Vietnamese Army force in the Republic of Vietnam. When his troop came in contact with the enemy, Sergeant Lantz repeatedly braved rocket, machine gun and small arms fire in order to direct the fire of his men against the fortified positions. His courageous and selfless actions greatly influenced the successful outcome of the engagement. Sergeant Lantz’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. 4698 (14 June 1968)