Rank: Sergeant
Unit: K Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device and Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge
Unit awards: Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: Selected Service
Date of birth: 26-Apr-1946
Hometown: East Detroit, Michigan
Marital status: Married to Linda L. McLean
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 24-Oct-1967
Start of tour: 22-Sep-1968
Incident date: 7-Feb-1969
Date of casualty: 7-Feb-1969
Age at death: 22
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Explosive Device. Other explosive device.
Donald Kent McLean died from wounds received while on combat operation when hit by fragments from hostile grenade.
Three Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
SP4 Gerald Reid Carr
SFC Richard Bruce Garrett
SGT Donald Kent McLean
Location of fatality: Binh Duong, South Vietnam
Place of interment: Resurrection Cemetery, Clinton Township, Michigan, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
SERGEANT DONALD KENT McLEAN
7 FEBRUARY 1969
K TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Sergeant McLean distinguished himself by heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force on 7 February 1969 while serving with the 2d Platoon of Troop K, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date Sergeant McLean was acting as a radio operator on the platoon’s command assault vehicle as the friendly force proceeded on a reconnaissance-in-force operation. Then the platoon discovered an enemy bunker complex in an area of dense vegetation, he immediately volunteered to search the positions. Dismounting his assault vehicle, Sergeant McLean, displaying complete disregard for his personal safety, proceeded on foot to the first enemy bunker. Suddenly, as he approached the entrance, two enemy fragmentation grenades were hurled from the bunker. The blast fatally wounded. him. Sergeant McLean’s courageous actions and dedication 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. 665 (18 March 1969)