Rank: Sergeant
Unit: Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist
Awards: Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal with Valor Device, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Unit awards: Valorous Unit Award, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Note: OH-6A, Tail # 65-12946, Observer
Enlisted by: Regular
Date of birth: 4-Feb-1949
Hometown: Lost Hills, California
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 4-Apr-1968
Start of tour: 25-Mar-1969
Incident date: 9-May-1970
Date of casualty: 9-May-1970
Age at death: 21
Cause of death: Non-hostile, died of other causes. Helicopter Crash — Crew (MC). Aircraft loss, crash not at sea.
John Austin Marr was killed while a scout gunner on a military aircraft on a military mission when the aircraft crashed and burned. / While making a visual reconnaissance, the main rotor blades struck one of the large trees. After striking the tree for a short time (second) the aircraft nosed over and crashed to the ground bursting into flames.
Two Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
CPT Rhonald Lee Durham
SGT John Austin Marr
Location of fatality: Cambodia
Place of interment: Corning Cemetery, Corning, Arkansas, USA
View this soldier‘s Find a Grave page (opens in a new window)
AIR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
SERGEANT JOHN AUSTIN MARR
1 APRIL 1970
AIR CAVALRY TROOP
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Sergeant Marr distinguished himself by heroism while participating in aerial flight on 1 April 1970 while serving as an observer gunner with the Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date Sergeant Marr’s light observation helicopter was flying in support of the 2d Squadron who had experienced sporadic encounters with the enemy throughout the day. While moving at fast speed at tree top level in order to reach the assigned area, the fading afternoon sun made visual reconnaissance impossible. Upon reaching an open area, the craft began to receive intense ground fire from an estimated two platoons of North Vietnamese soldiers. Sergeant Marr immediately returned highly accurate suppressive fire upon the insurgents. He also waited until the craft was at its closest position to the enemy so that he could place a smoke grenade upon the enemy positions allowing other helicopters to fire their ordnance. Sergeant Marr’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. 2203 (29 May 1970)