Rank: Private First Class
Unit: L Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 05B – Radio Operator
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Unit awards: Valorous Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Citation, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Note: Track L-66
Enlisted by: Selected Service
Date of birth: 3-Aug-1946
Hometown: Corona, California
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 29-Mar-1966
Start of tour: 12-Dec-1966
Incident date: 21-Jul-1967
Date of casualty: 21-Jul-1967
Age at death: 20
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Small Arms Fire. Gun or small arms fire.
Frank Daniel Leal Died as a result of gunshot wounds received while a passenger in a military convoy.
Fourteen Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
CPT William Forman Abernethy
PFC James Francis Bean
PFC John Joseph Campa
PFC Roosevelt C. Curley
SP4 Lawrence Michael Dawson
PFC George Arthur Foster
PVT Thomas Francis Ganion
PFC Douglas Wayne Hill
PFC Frank Daniel Leal
PFC Gary Alfred McLennan
PFC Billy Gene Rodgers
SP4 Richard James Schutz
1LT Ponder Ray Sims
PFC James Lemar Whitfield
Location of fatality: Long Khanh, South Vietnam, YT 430 308
Place of interment: All Souls Cemetery, Long Beach, California, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS FRANK DANIEL LEAL
21 JULY 1967
L TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Private First Class Leal distinguished himself by valorous actions on 21 July 1967, while serving as a machine gunner on an armored convoy proceeding along Highway 20. As the unit proceeded on its operation, it suddenly came under fierce attack from a numerically superior Viet Gong force. Immediately reacting to the critical situation, Private Leal directed a highly effective volley of suppressive fire upon the entrenched enemy. Private Leal continued the intensive barrage of fire until the vehicle commander was mortally wounded. Private Leal then bravely exposed himself to the hostile fire as he moved to the commander’s cupola and began firing the .50 caliber machine gun at the several Viet Cong positions set up close to the road. Disregarding the hostile fire, Private Leal continued to direct a highly effective barrage of suppressive fire upon the enemy until his ammunition supply became exhausted. Using his personal weapon, Private Leal resisted the fanatical insurgents until mortally wounded by the intense Viet Cong fire. Throughout the fierce engagement, Private Leal’s courage and dedication to duty contributed significantly to repelling the enemy and minimizing friendly casualties. Private First Class Leal’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. 3873 (5 August 1967)