Rank: Private First Class
Unit: L Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11B – Infantryman
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, Purple Heart Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, 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: Selected Service
Date of birth: 3-May-1947
Hometown: Statesville, North Carolina
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 10-Jul-1967
Start of tour: 7-Jan-1968
Incident date: 20-Feb-1968
Date of casualty: 20-Feb-1968
Age at death: 20
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Grenade. Multiple fragmentation wounds.
Ronald Jay McCoy died from wounds received while on combat operation when hit by fragments from hostile anti-tank round.
Location of fatality: Kien Hoa, South Vietnam
Place of interment: Iredell Memorial Gardens, Statesville, North Carolina, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS RONALD JAY McCOY
23 FEBRUARY 1968
L TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Private First Class McCoy distinguished himself by valorous actions on 23 February 1968, while serving as a Machine Gunner with Troop L, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, on a reconnaissance in force mission near Xuan Thoi Son. As the armored column moved down the roadway, it suddenly came under intense rocket, recoilless rifle, automatic weapons and small arms fire from a numerically superior Viet Cong force. Private McCoy responded directing a highly accurate volume of suppressive fire on the enemy which allowed the remainder of his platoon to assume defensive positions. Manning his weapon in his vulnerable position aboard his armored cavalry assault vehicle, he was mortally wounded by a burst of machine gun fire. Private First Class McCoy’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. 1564 (21 March 1968)