Rank: Staff Sergeant
Unit: 919th Engineer Company, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 12F – Engineer Tracked Vehicle Crewman
Awards: Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal with Two Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Good Conduct Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Unit awards: Valorous Unit Award, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: Regular
Date of birth: 15-Jan-1933
Hometown: Elizabeth, West Virginia
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 29-Jul-1953
Start of tour: 7-Aug-1966
Incident date: 29-Apr-1969
Date of casualty: 29-Apr-1969
Age at death: 36
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Small Arms Fire. Gun or small arms fire.
Arthur Ronald Strahin was killed while commander on a military vehicle on a combat operation when a hostile force was encountered. / Tank commander of tank on combat operation when engaged hostile force in firefight.
Location of fatality: Tay Ninh, South Vietnam, XT 479 807
Place of interment: Knights of Pythias Cemetery, Elizabeth, West Virginia, USA
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SILVER STAR
POSTHUMOUS
STAFF SERGEANT ARTHUR RONALD STRAHIN
17 APRIL 1969
919TH ENGINEER COMPANY (ARMORED)
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Staff Sergeant Strahin distinguished himself by gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 17 April 1969 while serving as a tank commander with the 919th Engineer Company (Armored), 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date while he was leading an armored escort through dense jungle, his tank suddenly received a direct rocket propelled grenade hit and was quickly enveloped by hostile automatic weapons and rocket fire from three sides. Despite the enemy barrage, Sergeant Strahin immediately began covering the hostile positions with suppressive fire and directing the other vehicles into an assault formation. Then disregarding his own safety, he charged directly into the center of the enemy fortifications and used his main gun to destroy several hostile rocket propelled grenade teams and force many of the enemy out of their bunkers into the open. As a result of Sergeant Strahin’s decisive and aggressive leadership, the planned enemy ambush was turned into a decisive friendly victory. Staff Sergeant Strahin’s courage and unwavering devotion to duty 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. 1769 (18 July 1969)