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
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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)