Rank: Captain
Unit: F Troop, 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 1204 – Armored Reconnaissance Unit Commander
Awards: Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal with Valor and Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart Medal, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Parachutist Badge
Unit awards: Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Note: OH-6, Observer
Enlisted by: Regular
Date of birth: 20-Sep-1941
Hometown: Liberty, Texas
Marital status: Married to Anita L. McAdams, two daughters
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Start of tour: 9-Jun-1968
Incident date: 28-Feb-1969
Date of casualty: 28-Feb-1969
Age at death: 27
Cause of death: Hostile, died of wounds. Grenade. Multiple fragmentation wounds.
Thomas Arthur McAdams died from wound received while observer on a military aircraft on command and control and reconnaissance mission when the aircraft received hostile automatic weapons fire. / Observer on Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) on command and control and reconnaissance mission when aircraft received hostile automatic weapons fire and individual was hit. Aircraft did not crash or burn. Individual admitted to 24th Evacuation Hospital, Long Binh, on 28 Feb 1969 at 1325 hrs and placed on Very Serious Injured (VSI) list on 28 Feb 1969 at 1325 hrs and later expired. Incident occurred on 28 Feb 1969 at 1235 hrs.
Location of fatality: Binh Duong, South Vietnam, XT 815 420
Place of interment: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, USA
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SILVER STAR
POSTHUMOUS
CAPTAIN THOMAS ARTHUR McADAMS, ARMOR
28 FEBRUARY 1969
F TROOP, 2nd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Captain McAdams distinguished himself by gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 28 February 1969 while serving as Troop Commander of Troop F, 2d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in the Republic of Vietnam. While on an aerial reconnaissance mission, Captain McAdams located an occupied enemy bunker complex. After flying in low to pinpoint the hostile fortifications and estimate the enemy troop strength, he called in friendly ground troops. In spite of intense hostile antiaircraft fire, he continued to make low level passes over the enemy positions so that his gunner could place suppressive fire on them. Under Captain McAdams’ expert direction, the friendly ground force overran and destroyed the enemy bunker complex. While he was directing his troops in a search of the surrounding area, they suddenly came under a deluge of enemy small arms, automatic weapons, and rocket-propelled grenade fire. After assessing the enemy’s strength, he began directing his men in assaulting the hostile positions. During a low level pass over the enemy emplacements, Captain McAdams was mortally wounded by a burst of enemy automatic weapons fire. Captain McAdams’ courageous leadership and unwavering 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, II Field Force Vietnam, General Orders No. 1441 (10 June 1969)
BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
CAPTAIN THOMAS ARTHUR McADAMS, ARMOR
25 JANUARY 1969
F TROOP, 2nd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Captain McAdams distinguished himself by heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force on 25 January 1969 while serving as the Commanding Officer of Troop F, 2d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date one of the troop’s armored cavalry assault vehicles with a crew of four and with a number of infantrymen riding on top detonated an enemy mine. Upon hearing the explosion, Captain McAdams immediately led a reaction force to the burning vehicle. Upon observing an injured soldier in extreme danger from the exploding ammunition, he dashed to the side of the blazing vehicle and carried the man to safety. When assured that the seriously injured crewmen were receive adequate medical attention, Captain McAdams returned to the vicinity of the exploding vehicle in order to ensure that all of the wounded had been evacuated. Through his courageous actions in the face of extreme danger, ten men were evacuated from the scene of the explosion, and several of them were saved from almost certain death. Captain McAdams’ 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, II Field Force Vietnam General Orders No. 1001 (20 April 1969)