Rank: Specialist 4
Unit: L Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11E – Armor Crewman
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device and Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge
Unit awards: Valorous Unit Award, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: Regular
Date of birth: 18-May-1951
Hometown: Orange, California
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 26-Sep-1968
Start of tour: 9-Dec-1969
Incident date: 15-Aug-1970
Date of casualty: 24-Aug-1970
Age at death: 19
Cause of death: Non-hostile, died of illness/injury. Other Accident. Accidental homicide. Individual died as a result of injuries received while at a night defensive position when his weapon accidentally discharged. He was admitted to a military medical facility and later expired. / At night defensive position (NDP). Handling .38 cal pistol when it accidentally fired. Admitted to 24th Evacuation Hospital, Long Binh, on 15 Aug 1970 at 1950 hrs, placed on Serious Injured (SI) list on 15 Aug 1970 at 2315 hrs, placed on Very Serious Injured (VSI) list on 23 Aug 1970 at 1335 hrs, and later expired. Incident occurred 15 Aug 1970 at 1730 hrs.
Location of fatality: Bien Hoa, South Vietnam, XT 911 293
Place of interment: Orchard Mesa Cemetery, Grand Junction, Colorado, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
SPECIALIST FOUR LARRY KENNETH LEIMBACH
10 MARCH 1970
L TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Specialist Four Leimbach distinguished himself by heroism in connection with ground operations against a hostile force on 10 March 1970 while serving as a driver with Troop L. 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date while on a reconnaissance mission the troop came under intense enemy small arms, automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade fire from an enemy force of undetermined size. With complete disregard for his own safety, Specialist Leimbach maneuvered his vehicle directly into the hostile fire, giving his gunners the best possible positioning to engage the enemy emplacements. Suddenly his vehicle was struck with a rocket-propelled grenade, immobilizing it. Without hesitation, Specialist Leimbach dismounted his vehicle, raced through the hostile fusillade and manned another machine gun on a nearby vehicle. From this position he continued his devastating assault on the enemy positions. Specialist Four Leimbach’s actions 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. 1781 (9 May 1970)