Rank: Private First Class
Unit: K Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, 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
Note: Operation Akron
Enlisted by: Selected Service
Date of birth: 21-Mar-1946
Hometown: Akron, Ohio
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Start of tour: 23-Aug-1966
Incident date: 19-Jun-1967
Date of casualty: 19-Jun-1967
Age at death: 21
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Grenade. Multiple fragmentation wounds.
Leonard Vito Tedesco was on a combat operation when engaged in firefight with hostile force.
Ten Blackhorse troopers died as a result of this incident:
SP4 Raymond Desmond Crowder Jr
SP4 William Jerry Dillon
PFC Edward Lee Fails Jr
SP4 Russell Louis Filiberti
SP4 Blaine Wilson Landers
PFC Bobby Louis Murphy
PFC Charles Howard Richards Jr
SSG Wayne Thomas Schumacher
SP5 William Norman Scott
PFC Leonard Vito Tedesco
Location of fatality: Phuoc Tuy, South Vietnam, Slope 30
Place of interment: White Chapel Memorial Park, Feasterville, Pennsylvania, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS LEONARD VITO TEDESCO
19 JUNE 1967
K TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Private First Class Tedesco distinguished himself by valorous actions on 19 June 1967, while serving as a rifleman and radio operator while participating in an ambush patrol in the jungles of Vietnam. Suddenly, Private Tedesso alertly detected enemy movement and immediately notified the Squadron of the critical situation. Observing that the insurgents were of battalion size and were positioning themselves to conduct an assault on the perimeter of the Squadron, Private Tedesco fearlessly engaged them. Despite the withering barrage of Viet Cong fire, Private Tedesco repeatedly exposed himself to the enemy to direct a highly accurate volley of suppressive fire upon their positions. Although the numerically superior enemy began to advance toward Private Tedesco’s position, he courageously remained at his post and continued to suppress hostile movement. As the fierce exchange of fire intensified, Private Tedesco was critically wounded by shrapnel, but gallantly disregarding his serious injury, he resumed firing upon the insurgents. Even after being wounded a second time, Private Tedesco courageously persisted in repelling the Viet Cong. While remaining fully exposed to the enemy, Private Tedesco was struck by a burst of hostile fire and was mortally wounded. Private First Class Tedesco’s personal bravery and 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, 9th Infantry Division General Orders No. 3061 (6 July 1967)