Rank: Private First Class
Unit: I Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist
Awards: Purple Heart Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge
Unit awards: Presidential Unit Citation, Valorous Unit Award, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Note: 1st platoon
Enlisted by: Selected Service
Date of birth: 20-Apr-1947
Hometown: Elmont, New York
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Start of tour: 20-Jul-1967
Incident date: 1-Apr-1968
Date of casualty: 1-Apr-1968
Age at death: 20
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Grenade. Multiple fragmentation wounds.
Richard Domenic Nicolini died as the result of wound received when he engaged a hostile force in a firefight while passenger in military vehicle on combat operation. / (Individual transported to 24th Evacuation Hospital, Long Binh.)
Two Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
SP4 George Lee Myers
PFC Richard Domenic Nicolini
Location of fatality: Hua Nghia, South Vietnam
Place of interment: Cypress Hills Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York, USA
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ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS RICHARD DOMENIC NICOLINI
14 FEBRUARY 1968
I TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Private First Class Nicolini distinguished himself on 14 February 1968, while serving as a Machine Gunner with Troop I, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. When his unit came under an intense barrage of hostile fire, Private Nicolini left his armored cavalry assault vehicle and exposed himself to enemy marksmen in order to evacuate several seriously wounded comrades to a safe position. Private First Class Nicolini’s heroic actions are 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. 2630 (22 April 1968)