Rank: Sergeant
Unit: C Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11E – Armor Crewman
Awards: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge
Unit awards: Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: Regular
Date of birth: 14-Oct-1944
Hometown: Savannah, Georgia
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 2-Jun-1962
Start of tour: 29-Mar-1969
Incident date: 14-Apr-1969
Date of casualty: 14-Apr-1969
Age at death: 24
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Small Arms Fire. Gun or small arms fire.
Richard Bailey Tuten Jr was killed while on combat operation when a hostile force was encountered. / Tank commander on Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) on combat operation when engaged hostile force in firefight.
Location of fatality: Tay Ninh, South Vietnam, XT 419 544
Place of interment: Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah, Georgia, USA
View this soldier‘s Find a Grave page (opens in a new window)
ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
SERGEANT RICHARD BAILEY TUTEN JR
13 MAY 1968
D COMPANY, 1st SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Sergeant Tuten distinguished himself by heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force on 13 May 1968 while serving as a armored cavalry assault vehicle commander assigned to Company D, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date in the vicinity of Cu Chi, Company D was in contact with a determined energy force using small arms, automatic weapons and antitank rockets. An armored cavalry assault vehicle near Sergeant Tuten was rendered immobile by an enemy rocket. Acting entirely on his own initiative and displaying total disregard for his own safety, Sergeant Tuten maneuvered his vehicle between the disabled vehicle and the intense enemy fire directed at it. Once in position, Sergeant Tuten simultaneously provided accurate suppressive covering fire and personally supervised the evacuation of the wounded crew. He then moved to the disabled armored cavalry assault vehicle and while still providing covering fire, directed the safe recovery of the vehicle. Sergeant Tuten’s unwavering devotion to duty and calm professionalism under hostile fire 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, II Field Force Vietnam General Orders No. 1389 (5 October 1968)