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)
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)