Rank: Private First Class
Unit: K Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, Purple Heart Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge
Unit awards: Meritorious Unit Citation, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: Selected Service
Date of birth: 5-Aug-1945
Hometown: Mercedes, Texas
Marital status: Married to Lupe Saenz
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Start of tour: 7-Dec-1966
Incident date: 21-May-1967
Date of casualty: 21-May-1967
Age at death: 21
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Grenade. Multiple fragmentation wounds.
Rodolfo Andres Saenz was on convoy escort mission when engaged hostile force in firefight.
Seventeen Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
SP5 William Phillip Centers Jr
SGT Eugene Harold Dickinson
PVT Jerry Lee Houser
SP4 Toler Lee Hutchins Jr
SP4 Phillip Earl Ireland
SSG James Albert Jackson
SGT Alfred Lee
PFC Patrick Michael Loisel
SP4 Henry David McInnis
SP4 James David McWhorter
SP4 Anthony Wilfred Roybal
PFC Rodolfo Andres Saenz
SSG Walter Stephen Simpson
PFC William Charles Stanley
SP4 James Thomas Steighner
SP4 Dwight Elmer Timberlake
SP4 Larry Allen Williamson
Location of fatality: Long Khanh, South Vietnam, YT 564 054
Place of interment: Highland Memorial Park Cemetery, Weslaco, Texas, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS RODOLFO ANDRES SAENZ
21 MAY 1967
K TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Private First Class Saenz distinguished himself by valorous actions on 21 May 1967, while serving as gunner and observer on an Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle in a convoy nearing the village of Soui Cat, Republic of Vietnam. As the convoy proceeded along the highway, an estimated reinforced battalion of Viet Gong attacked with recoilless rifles, mortars, automatic weapons, and small arms. Private Saenz’s vehicle was hit immediately in the fierce barrage, and he was severely injured. Private Saenz disregarded the pain of his own wounds, refusing to be evacuated so that he could return fire upon the enemy. Firing and reloading his weapon several times, Private Saenz hurled hand grenades at the attackers, repelling them repeatedly. He continued to fire his personal weapon bravely after his machine gun had run out of ammunition and ceased fighting only when knocked unconscious by another recoilless rifle round. Private Saenz’s heroism under a hail of enemy fire was instrumental in the eventual rout of the enemy. Private First Class Saenz’s courage and devotion to duty 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, 9th Infantry Division General Orders No. 1927 (27 June 1967)