Rank: Sergeant
Unit: Howitzer Battery, 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 13E – Cannon Fire Direction Specialist
Awards: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Unit awards: Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Note: Forward Observer attached to G Troop, 2/11 ACR
Enlisted by: Regular
Date of birth: 14-Sep-1951
Hometown: Santa Clara, California
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 25-Sep-1969
Start of tour: 1-Sep-1970
Incident date: 24-Apr-1971
Date of casualty: 24-Apr-1971
Age at death: 19
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Explosive Device. Other explosive device.
Bruce Donald Stephenson was killed while on a combat operation when a hostile force was encountered. / On reconnaissance by fire mission. Engaged enemy after hostile ambush. Hit by rocket propelled granade (RPG).
Four Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
SP4 Bennie Ray Hively
SP4 Stephen Alan Spencer
SGT Bruce Donald Stephenson
SP4 Hilbert Walter Teeter
Location of fatality: Hua Nghia, South Vietnam, XT 618 256
Place of interment: Oak Hill Memorial Park, San Jose, California, USA
View this soldier‘s Find a Grave page (opens in a new window)