Rank: Specialist 4
Unit: A Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11B – Infantryman
Awards: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge
Unit awards: Presidential Unit Citation, Valorous Unit Award, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: Selected Service
Date of birth: 8-Jul-1949
Hometown: Evansville, Indiana
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 8-Apr-1969
Start of tour: 17-Nov-1969
Incident date: 12-Jun-1970
Date of casualty: 12-Jun-1970
Age at death: 20
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Small Arms Fire. Gun or small arms fire.
Danny Ray Schmidt was killed while drier of a military vehicle on a combat operation when the area came under attack by a hostile force. / Driver on Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle (ACAV) on reconnaissance mission. Engaged hostile force in firefight.
Location of fatality: Cambodia, XU 423 075
Place of interment: Oak Hill Cemetery, Evansville, Indiana, USA
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ARMY COMMENDATIN MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS DANNY RAY SCHMIDT
15 JANUARY 1970
A TROOP, 1st SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Private First Class Schmidt distinguished himself by heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force on 15 January 1970 while serving as a gunner with Troop A, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date Private Schmidt’s troop came in contact with a well-trained and organized platoon of enemy sappers firing small arms and rocket propelled grenade launchers. Private Schmidt picked out the most dangerous concentrations of enemy troops and began placing devastating volleys of suppressive fire upon them. Noticing a nearby vehicle about to be engulfed by the advancing enemy, Private Schmidt directed his comrades’ attention toward the vehicle, and through the use of hand and arm signals directed the destruction of the assaulting force. Private Schmidt exposed himself to the intense enemy fire in order to better direct the fire of his vehicle upon the enemy positions. Private First Class Schmidt’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. 1047 (23 March 1970)