VIETNAM - TUTEN, RICHARD BAILEY JR

Tuten, Richard Bailey Jr

VIETNAM - TUTEN, RICHARD BAILEY JR
TUTEN, RICHARD BAILEY JR

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)

Vietnam Veterans Memorial panel and row: 27W 084 (view Vietnam Veterans Memorial link in a new window)

 

ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL

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)