VIETNAM - SWANEY, LARRY DEAN

Swaney, Larry Dean

VIETNAM - SWANEY, LARRY DEAN
SWANEY, LARRY DEAN

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

View this soldier‘s Find a Grave page (opens in a new window)

Vietnam Veterans Memorial panel and row: 58W 021 (view Vietnam Veterans Memorial link in a new window)

 

ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL

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)