Rank: Private First Class
Unit: Headquarters & Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11E – Armor Crewman
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, Purple Heart Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Good Conduct Medal, 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: Regular
Date of birth: 19-Aug-1949
Hometown: Williamstown, Kentucky
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 31-Aug-1966
Start of tour: 4-Jan-1968
Incident date: 12-Sep-1968
Date of casualty: 12-Sep-1968
Age at death: 19
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Explosive Device. Other explosive device.
Edgar Lee Tomlinson died from wounds received while driver of military vehicle on combat operation when hostile mine detonated.
Location of fatality: Binh Duong, South Vietnam
Place of interment: Williamstown Cemetery, Williamstown, Kentucky, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS EDGAR LEE TOMLINSON
28 MARCH 1968
M COMPANY, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Private First Class Tomlinson distinguished himself by valorous actions on 28 March 1968, while serving as a Tank Gun Loader with Company M, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment on a reconnaissance in force mission near Xom Bao, Vietnam. When his company came in heavy contact with a battalion of Viet Gong, the company commander received a severe head wound. Reacting instantly, Private Tomlinson administered first aid then climbed into the commander’s cupola and directed highly accurate .50 caliber machine gun fire against a group of insurgents who were trying to overrun the tank. After conveying the casualty to a medical evacuation site and braving heavy fire to load him on a helicopter, Private Tomlinson returned his tank to the thick of battle. Private First Class Tomlinson’s personal bravery and devotion to duty are 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. 4694 (14 June 1968)