VIETNAM - LOISEL, PATRICK MICHAEL

Loisel, Patrick Michael

VIETNAM - LOISEL, PATRICK MICHAEL
LOISEL, PATRICK MICHAEL

Rank: Private First Class

Unit: M Company, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment

MOS: 11E – Armor Crewman

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

Enlisted by: Selected Service

Date of birth: 20-Jun-1946

Hometown: Chatsworth, California

Marital status: Married to Roberta L. Loisel

Campaign: Vietnam Conflict

Start of tour: 13-Apr-1967

Incident date: 21-May-1967

Date of casualty: 21-May-1967

Age at death: 20

Cause of death: Hostile, died of wounds. Grenade. Multiple fragmentation wounds.
Patrick Michael Loisel was passenger in a military vehicle on convoy escort mission when unit engaged a hostile force in a firefight.

Seventeen Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
SP5 William Phillip Centers Jr
SGT Eugene Harold Dickinson
PVT Jerry Lee Houser
SP4 Toler Lee Hutchins Jr
SP4 Phillip Earl Ireland
SSG James Albert Jackson
SGT Alfred Lee
PFC Patrick Michael Loisel
SP4 Henry David McInnis
SP4 James David McWhorter
SP4 Anthony Wilfred Roybal
PFC Rodolfo Andres Saenz
SSG Walter Stephen Simpson
PFC William Charles Stanley
SP4 James Thomas Steighner
SP4 Dwight Elmer Timberlake
SP4 Larry Allen Williamson

Location of fatality: Long Khanh, South Vietnam, YT 564 054

Place of interment: San Fernando Mission Cemetery, Mission Hills, California, USA

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

Vietnam Veterans Memorial panel and row: 20E 077 (view Vietnam Veterans Memorial link in a new window)

 

BRONZE STAR MEDAL

BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS PATRICK MICHAEL LOISEL
21 MAY 1967
M COMPANY, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT

Private First Class Loisel distinguished himself by valorous actions on 21 May 1967, while serving as loader on a tank in a convoy traveling near the village of Soui Cat, Republic of Vietnam, As the convoy was proceeding along the highway, it was suddenly attacked by an estimated reinforced battalion of Viet Cong, armed with recoilless rifles, mortars, automatic weapons and small arms. During the initial barrage of hostile fire Private Loisel was hit and critically wounded by an anti-tank round; the concussion threw him onto the back deck of the tank. Disregarding both his painful wounds and personal safety, Private Loisel courageously drew his side arm and returned fire until his ammunition was exhausted. Private Loisel then crawled into the wounded gunner’s seat and began to direct devastating fire upon insurgent positions. He continued to decimate the enemy until he passed out from the shock of his wounds. Private First Class Loisel’s 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. 1932 (27 June 1967)