Rank: Sergeant
Unit: I Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist
Awards: Silver Star, Purple Heart Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge
Unit awards: Valorous Unit Award, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Note: 1st platoon
Enlisted by: Regular
Date of birth: 13-Feb-1944
Hometown: Falfurrias, Texas
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 27-Jul-1965
Start of tour: 8-Jul-1967
Incident date: 14-Feb-1968
Date of casualty: 14-Feb-1968
Age at death: 24
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Artillery/Mortar/Rocket. Artillery, rocket, or mortar.
Vitalio Vela Jr died from fragment wounds and burns received while a passenger on military vehicle on combat operation when vehicle was hit by hostile anti-tank round.
Three Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
PFC Randall John Gustafson
SGT Vitalio Vela Jr
PFC Joseph Robert Weaver Jr
Location of fatality: Binh Duong, South Vietnam
Place of interment: Sacred Heart Cemetery, Falfurrias, Texas, USA
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SILVER STAR
POSTHUMOUS
SERGEANT VITALIO VELA JR
14 FEBRUARY 1968
I TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Sergeant Vela distinguished himself by gallantry in action involving close combat against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Sergeant Vela distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 14 February 1968 while serving as a Track Commander with Troop I, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. During a combined operation with elements of the 9th Infantry Division near the village of Cau Dat, the friendly force suddenly began receiving a sustained barrage of small arms, automatic weapons and recoilless rifle rounds from an unknown sized Viet Cong force. Sergeant Vela, in command of the lead armored cavalry assault vehicle quickly wheeled around so that his machine gunners could match the enemy fire. When a rocket struck the track, causing it to erupt into flames and wounding all aboard. Sergeant Vela refused medical attention until all other crew members had been cared for. Ignoring his serious wounds, Sergeant Vela covered the evacuation with a .50 caliber machine gun, allowing all casualties to be safely removed to a medical aid area. He remained behind at his machine gun, skillfully repelling the enemy force until he was mortally wounded. Sergeant Vela’s extraordinary heroism in close combat against a Viet Cong force was 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. 1416 (17 March 1968)