VIETNAM - TIMBERLAKE, DWIGHT ELMER

Timberlake, Dwight Elmer

VIETNAM - TIMBERLAKE, DWIGHT ELMER
TIMBERLAKE, DWIGHT ELMER

Rank: Specialist 4

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: M-113A1, ACAV, K-17

Enlisted by: Selected Service

Date of birth: 8-Oct-1945

Hometown: Livonia, Michigan

Marital status: Never Married

Campaign: Vietnam Conflict

Entered service: 8-Nov-1965

Start of tour: 14-Aug-1966

Incident date: 21-May-1967

Date of casualty: 21-May-1967

Age at death: 21

Cause of death: Hostile, died. Grenade. Multiple fragmentation wounds.
Dwight Elmer Timberlake was on a convoy escort mission when engaged in a firefight with hostile force.

Seventeen Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
SP5 William Phillip Centers Jr
SGT Eugene Harold Dickinson
PVT Jerry Lee Houser
SP4 Toler Lee Hutchins Jr
SP4 Phillip Earl Ireland
SSG James Albert Jackson
SGT Alfred Lee
PFC Patrick Michael Loisel
SP4 Henry David McInnis
SP4 James David McWhorter
SP4 Anthony Wilfred Roybal
PFC Rodolfo Andres Saenz
SSG Walter Stephen Simpson
PFC William Charles Stanley
SP4 James Thomas Steighner
SP4 Dwight Elmer Timberlake
SP4 Larry Allen Williamson

Location of fatality: Long Khanh, South Vietnam, YT 564 054

Place of interment: Glen Eden Memorial Park, Livonia, Michigan, USA

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

Vietnam Veterans Memorial panel and row: 20E 079 (view Vietnam Veterans Memorial link in a new window)

 

BRONZE STAR MEDAL

BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS

SPECIALIST FOUR DWIGHT ELMER TIMBERLAKE
21 MAY 1967
K TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON

11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT

Specialist Four Timberlake distinguished himself by valorous actions on 21 May 1967, while serving as driver aboard an Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle in a convoy as it was traversing an area near Soui Cat, Republic of Vietnam. Suddenly, the convoy came under heavy attack from an estimated Viet Cong battalion which was firing recoilless rifles, mortars, automatic weapons, and small arms. Alertly observing the insurgent positions, Specialist Timberlake began to take evasive actions. As Specialist Timberlake maneuvered through deadly enemy fire, he was hit and critically wounded by an antitank round that struck his vehicle. Ignoring both personal safety and his painful injuries, Specialist Timberlake continued to take evasive actions, providing an extremely difficult target for the Viet Cong. So effective was his driving that nearly all of the hostile rounds missed his vehicle completely. Specialist Timberlake’s actions were instrumental in eventually routing the numerically superior enemy force. Specialist Four Timberlake’s courage 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. 1916 (27 June 1967)