Rank: Staff Sergeant
Unit: I Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11B – Infantryman
Awards: Silver Star, Purple Heart 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: Regular
Date of birth: 27-Mar-1945
Hometown: Hindsville, Arkansas
Marital status: Married to Catherine A. Siler
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Start of tour: 22-Aug-1966
Incident date: 11-Apr-1967
Date of casualty: 11-Apr-1967
Age at death: 22
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Grenade. Multiple fragmentation wounds.
Cary Hubert Siler was passenger in armored personnel carrier on combat operation when hit by recoilless rifle fire.
Location of fatality: Binh Duong, South Vietnam
Place of interment: Buckeye Cemetery, Hindsville, Arkansas, USA
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SILVER STAR
POSTHUMOUS
STAFF SERGEANT CARY HUBERT SILER
11 APRIL 1967
I TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Staff Sergeant Siler distinguished himself by gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 11 April 1967 while assigned to Troop I, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Sergeant Siler was serving as Vehicle Commander of an armored cavalry assault vehicle participating in a search and destroy mission during Operation Junction City II. While proceeding through dense jungle terrain, his armored column encountered a well-armed Viet Cong force. Almost immediately, one of the column’s vehicles was hit and disabled by a round from an enemy antitank weapon. Quickly assessing the gravity of the situation, Sergeant Siler reacted instantly and maneuvered his own vehicle between the stricken armored element and the intense enemy automatic weapons fire. Without regard for his own personal safety, he began to direct heavy suppressive fire on the Viet Cong positions. Suddenly, his vehicle was also hit by antitank fire, wounding two of his crew members. Sergeant Siler courageously remained in the burning vehicle, exposing himself to intense enemy fire in order to provide cover fire for the evacuation of his two comrades. As he continued his gallant efforts, he was mortally wounded by Viet Cong small arms fire. His unhesitating actions and extreme courage were directly responsible for saving the lives of two of his men and foiling an attempt by the enemy to destroy the armored column. Sergeant Siler’s extraordinary heroism in close combat with the was 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. 1014 (25 June 1967)