Rank: Specialist 4
Unit: C Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11B – Infantryman
Awards: 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: 12-Oct-1947
Hometown: Wellston, Ohio
Marital status: Married to Sherry J. Swaney
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 24-May-1967
Start of tour: 2-Nov-1967
Incident date: 10-Jun-1968
Date of casualty: 10-Jun-1968
Age at death: 20
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Explosive Device. Other explosive device.
Larry Dean Swaney died from wounds received while gunner on military vehicle on combat operation when vehicle hit hostile mine. / (Individual transported to 93rd Evacuation Hospital, Long Binh.)
Location of fatality: Bien Hoa, South Vietnam
Place of interment: Evergreen Cemetery, Leo, Ohio, USA
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ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
SPECIALIST FOUR LARRY DEAN SWANEY
10 JUNE 1968
C TROOP, 1st SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Specialist Four Swaney distinguished himself by heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force on 10 June 1968 while serving as an armored cavalry assault vehicle driver with C Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Specialist Swaney’s platoon made contact with a well-armed enemy force of unknown size in the vicinity of Phouc Vinh. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Specialist Swaney braved the heavy concentration of hostile fire as he stood up in the driver’s compartment of his armored vehicle in order to direct accurate suppressive fire on the enemy positions with his personal weapon. As he courageously began to maneuver his vehicle through the surrounding jungle to assume a position from which his crewmen could deliver a more effective volume of fire upon the enemy fortifications, it detonated an enemy mine, seriously wounding Specialist Swaney. His actions served as a source of inspiration to his fellow soldiers and contributed measurably to the success of the mission. Specialist Four Swaney’s personal bravery was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam General Orders No. 699 (16 July 1968)