VIETNAM - ORSUND, RICHARD WAYNE

Orsund, Richard Wayne

VIETNAM - ORSUND, RICHARD WAYNE
ORSUND, RICHARD WAYNE

Rank: Specialist 4

Unit: F Troop, 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment

MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist

Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, Purple Heart 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: 19-Jul-1947

Hometown: Grafton, North Dakota

Marital status: Never Married

Campaign: Vietnam Conflict

Entered service: 11-Jan-1967

Start of tour: 17-Jun-1967

Incident date: 27-Mar-1968

Date of casualty: 27-Mar-1968

Age at death: 20

Cause of death: Hostile, died. Grenade. Multiple fragmentation wounds.
Richard Wayne Orsund died from metal fragment wound received while going on night defense perimeter when engaged hostile force.

Location of fatality: Binh Duong, South Vietnam

Place of interment: South Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Grafton, North Dakota, USA

View this soldier‘s Find a Grave page (opens in a new window)

Vietnam Veterans Memorial panel and row: 46E 048 (view Vietnam Veterans Memorial link in a new window)

 

BRONZE STAR MEDAL

BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS

SPECIALIST FOUR RICHARD WAYNE ORSUND
26 MARCH 1968 TO 27 MARCH 1968
F TROOP, 2nd SQUADRON

11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT

Specialist Four Orsund distinguished himself by valorous actions during the period 26 March 1968 to 27 March 1968, while serving as a Track Commander with F Troop, 2d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, as his unit was conducting a reconnaissance in force operation near Lai Khe, Vietnam. When his patrol came under heavy automatic and semiautomatic weapons fire, Specialist Orsund immediately provided intense suppressive fire from his cupola mounted machine gun. On this occasion, the highly accurate and lethal fire provided by Specialist Orsund accounted for five enemy dead. When night fell, Specialist Orsund moved his vehicle to the perimeter and organized the defense of his sector. In the early morning hours of the following day an insurgent force staged an attack on his unit and Specialist Orsund was mortally wounded while courageously defending his sector of the perimeter. Spedialist Orsund’s personal bravery and devotion to duty 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. 3243 (3 May 1968)