Rank: Specialist 5
Unit: 919th Engineer Company, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 12B – Combat Engineer
Awards: Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Unit awards: Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: Regular
Date of birth: 31-Mar-1949
Hometown: Ashtabula, Ohio
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 8-Nov-1967
Start of tour: 7-Dec-1969
Incident date: 8-Apr-1970
Date of casualty: 8-Apr-1970
Age at death: 21
Cause of death: Non-hostile, died of other causes. Other Accident. Other accident.
Craig Alden Van Akin was killed while on a military mission when a mine emplaced by a friendly force detonated. / On mine sweep mission. Detonated friendly claymore mine.
Three Blackhorse troopers died as a result of this incident:
SFC David Winthrop Dash
SSG Robert James Thompson
SP5 Craig Alden Van Akin
Location of fatality: Tay Ninh, South Vietnam, XT 048 857
Place of interment: Saybrook Cemetery, Ashtabula, Ohio, USA
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