Rank: Sergeant
Unit: B Troop, 1st 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: Presidential Unit Citation, Valorous Unit Award, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: Selected Service
Date of birth: 8-May-1947
Hometown: Navesink, New Jersey
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 4-Aug-1965
Start of tour: 18-Jan-1968
Incident date: 30-May-1968
Date of casualty: 30-May-1968
Age at death: 21
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Grenade. Multiple fragmentation wounds.
John David Pape died from wound received while driver of military vehicle on combat operation when engaged hostile force in firefight.
Five Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
SP4 Gerald Alan Collis
SP4 James Davis
SGT Joseph Harold Graham
PFC George Francis Long
SGT John David Pape
Location of fatality: Hua Nghia, South Vietnam, XT 422 128
Place of interment: All Saints Memorial Church Cemetery, Navesink, New Jersey, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
SERGEANT JOHN DAVID PAPE
30 MAY 1967
B TROOP, 1st SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Sergeant Pape distinguished himself by valorous actions on 30 May 1968, while serving as a Squad Leader with Troop B, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, on a reconnaissance in force mission northwest of Saigon, Vietnam. The armored column was suddenly engaged by a well concealed enemy force along the roadway. Sergeant Pape immediately turned his vehicle and began assaulting the insurgent stronghold. Completely disregarding his own safety, Sergeant Pape completely exposed himself in order to deliver highly accurate suppressive fire on a machine gun emplacement. In the process, he was mortally wounded by enemy fire from another position. Sergeant Pape’s personal bravery and devotion to duty is 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. 5123 (25 June 1968)