Rank: Sergeant
Unit: C Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist
Awards: Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge
Unit awards: Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: Regular
Date of birth: 7-Aug-1946
Hometown: New Fairfield, Connecticut
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 19-Aug-1968
Start of tour: 3-May-1969
Incident date: 21-Jan-1970
Date of casualty: 21-Jan-1970
Age at death: 23
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Unknown. Other causes.
John Charles Reitwiesner was killed while commander of a military vehicle on a combat operation when a hostile force was encountered. / Track commander on Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle (ACAV) on combat operation. Engaged hostile force in firefight.
Location of fatality: Binh Long, South Vietnam, XU 772 165
Place of interment: New Fairfield Cemetery, New Fairfield, Connecticut, USA
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SILVER STAR
POSTHUMOUS
SERGEANT JOHN CHARLES REITWIESNER
21 JANUARY 1970
C TROOP, 1st SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Sergeant Reitwiesner distinguished himself by gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 21 January 1970 while serving as a tank commander with Troop C, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date while conducting a reconnaissance mission, Sergeant Reitwiesner’s troop came under intense rocket propelled grenade, mortar, and automatic weapons fire by an estimate battalion of North Vietnamese Army soldiers. Disregarding his own safety, he immediately began assaulting the bunkers in which the enemy was entrenched. Throughout the firefight, Sergeant Reitwiesner continually exposed himself to the intense hostile fire in order to better engage the enemy. Suddenly, an enemy rocket propelled grenade struck his vehicle and disabled it. Braving the hostile fire, he remained in the cupola to direct suppressive fire upon the enemy. He remained in this position until another rocket propelled grenade struck the vehicle, mortally wounding him. Sergeant Reitwiesner’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. 1327 (30 March 1970)