VIETNAM - PRESTON, ROSS MCCLLELAN

Preston, Ross McClellan

VIETNAM - PRESTON, ROSS McCLLELAN
PRESTON, ROSS McCLLELAN

Rank: Private First Class

Unit: A Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment

MOS: 11B – Infantryman

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, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device

Enlisted by: Selected Service

Date of birth: 30-Sep-1947

Hometown: La Habra, California

Marital status: Never Married

Campaign: Vietnam Conflict

Entered service: Nov-1967

Start of tour: 11-May-1968

Incident date: 20-Jun-1968

Date of casualty: 20-Jun-1968

Age at death: 20

Cause of death: Hostile, died. Small Arms Fire. Gun or small arms fire.
Ross McCllelan Preston died from wounds received while on combat operation when hit by hostile small arms fire.

Location of fatality: Binh Duong, South Vietnam

Place of interment: Memory Garden Memorial Park, Brea, California, USA

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

Vietnam Veterans Memorial panel and row: 55W 009 (view Vietnam Veterans Memorial link in a new window)

 

BRONZE STAR MEDAL

BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ROSS McCLELLAN PRESTON
20 JUNE 1968
A TROOP, 1st SQUADRON

11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT

Private First Class Preston distinguished himself by heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force on 20 June 1968 while assigned to Troop A, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Private Preston was a member of a dismounted patrol investigating entrenchments believed to have been abandoned by North Vietnamese troops. As the patrol approached a bunker which had not been previously searched, Private Preston volunteered to investigate it. As he stepped inside, a concealed enemy soldier fired at him with an assault rifle. Private Preston dropped to the floor and as he returned fire, gave warning to the other members of the patrol. Private Preston’s fire had wounded the North Vietnamese Army soldier and in the ensuing firefight, Private Preston was mortally wounded. Private First Class Preston’s unwavering devotion to duty and disregard of personal safety 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. 1430 (9 October 1968)