VIETNAM - VAN AKIN, CRAIG ALDEN

VanAkin, Craig Alden

VIETNAM - VAN AKIN, CRAIG ALDEN
VAN AKIN, CRAIG ALDEN

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

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

Vietnam Veterans Memorial panel and row: 12W 110 (view Vietnam Veterans Memorial link in a new window)