VIETNAM - SANDERS, WAYNE JACKSON

Sanders, Wayne Jackson

VIETNAM - SANDERS, WAYNE JACKSON
SANDERS, WAYNE JACKSON

Rank: Staff Sergeant

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

MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist

Awards: Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Device, 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: 25-Apr-1948

Hometown: Ratcliff, Arkansas

Marital status: Never Married

Campaign: Vietnam Conflict

Entered service: 7-Sep-1965

Start of tour: 4-Jul-1969

Incident date: 6-Sep-1969

Date of casualty: 6-Sep-1969

Age at death: 21

Cause of death: Hostile, died. Small Arms Fire. Gun or small arms fire.
Wayne Jackson Sanders was killed while commander of a military vehicle on a combat operation when a hostile force was encountered. / Tank commander of Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle (ACAV) on reconnaissance in force mission.  Engaged hostile force in firefight.

Three Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
SP4 Larry Daniel Boobar
SGT Bobby Gene Haynes
SSG Wayne Jackson Sanders

Location of fatality: Binh Long, South Vietnam, XU 745 001

Place of interment: Caulksville Cemetery, Caulksville, Arkansas, USA

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

Vietnam Veterans Memorial panel and row: 18W 050 (view Vietnam Veterans Memorial link in a new window)

 

SILVER STAR

SILVER STAR
POSTHUMOUS

STAFF SERGEANT WAYNE JACKSON SANDERS
6 SEPTEMBER 1969
C TROOP, 1st SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT

Staff Sergeant Sanders distinguished himself by gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 6 September 1969 while serving as a vehicle commander with Troop C, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date Troop C was conducting a reconnaissance mission when they were suddenly engaged by an unknown sized North Vietnamese Army force. Sergeant Sanders immediately maneuvered his vehicle to protect an exposed flank as the intense barrages of small arms, automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenades continued to sweep the entire area. Sergeant Sanders placed a heavy volume of suppressive fire on the enemy positions and scattered several groups of soldiers attempting to flank the troop. As the assault continued, Sergeant Sanders continuously exposed himself to the hostile volleys and he fired his machine gun and direct his men who repeatedly repulsed attacks by the enemy. Suddenly he noticed an enemy rocket propelled grenade team preparing to fire on a vehicle, so he swung his machine gun around and started to fire. Unexpectedly the gun malfunctioned, so Sergeant Sanders grabbed his personal weapon and continued to engage the enemy, resulting in several enemy killed in action. He continued to engage the enemy when suddenly a rocket propelled grenade slammed into his vehicle, very critically wounding him. Despite his painful injuries, he jumped from the track, assaulting another group of North Vietnamese who were mounting an attack on his position. While engaging the enemy he lapsed into unconsciousness and died later from his wounds. Staff Sergeant Sanders’ gallant actions, total devotion to duty and complete disregard for his 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. 2812 (17 October 1969)