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
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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)