VIETNAM - OWNBEY, TIMOTHY ROBERT

Ownbey, Timothy Robert

VIETNAM - OWNBEY, TIMOTHY ROBERT
OWNBEY, TIMOTHY ROBERT

Rank: Specialist 4

Unit: L Troop, 3rd 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: Regular

Date of birth: 6-May-1950

Hometown: Springfield, Oregon

Marital status: Never Married

Campaign: Vietnam Conflict

Entered service: 29-Aug-1969

Start of tour: 29-Jan-1970

Incident date: 25-Oct-1970

Date of casualty: 25-Oct-1970

Age at death: 20

Cause of death: Hostile, died. Explosive Device. Other explosive device.
Timothy Robert Ownbey was killed while at a night defensive position when a booby trap detonated. / At night defensive position (NDP).  Detonated hostile booby trap.  / On reconnaissance patrol with two other members of his unit.  One of the men stepped on a trip wire which detonated an anti-personnel mine set by the Viet Cong.

Three Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
PFC Dennis Charles Cannan
SP4 Timothy Robert Ownbey
SP4 Kim William Widmer

Location of fatality: Binh Duong, South Vietnam, XT 972 391

Place of interment: Springfield Memorial Gardens, Springfield, Oregon, USA

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

Vietnam Veterans Memorial panel and row: 06W 021 (view Vietnam Veterans Memorial link in a new window)

 

BRONZE STAR MEDAL

BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE AND OAK LEAF CLUSTER
POSTHUMOUS

SPECIALIST FOUR TIMOTHY ROBERT OWNBEY
24 AUGUST 1970
L TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON

11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT

Specialist Four Ownbey distinguished himself by heroism in connection with ground operations against a hostile force on 24 August 1970 while serving as a Tank Commander with Troop L, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date Specialist Ownbey was leading a patrol in search of a downed aircraft in a heavily wooded area known to contain the enemy. In spite of the inherent danger, Specialist Ownbey swiftly and professionally spotted numerous enemy antipersonnel mines and disarmed them. These actions undoubtedly saved many of the lives of his fellow patrol members. Specialist Four Ownbey’s actions 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. 4514 (22 December 1970)