Rank: Specialist 4
Unit: 37th Medical Company, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 91B – Medical Specialist
Awards: Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Combat Medical Badge
Unit awards: Valorous Unit Award, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Note: Medic attached to Aero Rifle Platoon
Enlisted by: Selected Service
Date of birth: 29-Nov-1949
Hometown: Palo Alto, California
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 27-Aug-1969
Start of tour: 28-Jun-1970
Incident date: 25-Aug-1970
Date of casualty: 25-Aug-1970
Age at death: 20
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Small Arms Fire. Gun or small arms fire.
Jerrold Louis Vesey was killed while on a combat operation when a hostile force was encountered. / On reconnaissance mission. Engaged hostile force in firefight.
Three Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
SP4 Robert Edmund Koonce
SGT John Daniel Malcolm
SP4 Jerrold Louis Vesey
Location of fatality: Binh Duong, South Vietnam, XT 933 310
Place of interment: Alta Mesa Memorial Park, Palo Alto, California, USA
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SILVER STAR
POSTHUMOUS
SPECIALIST FOUR JERROLD LOUIS VESSEY
25 AUGUST 1970
37th MEDICAL COMPANY
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Specialist Four Vesey distinguished himself by gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force, while serving with the Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. Specialist Fourth Class Vesey distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 25 August 1970 while serving as an aid man on a search and destroy mission. Specialist Vesey was assigned to the Aero Rifle Platoon of the Air Cavalry Troop when it suddenly began to receive heavy automatic weapons fire from approximately fifteen North Vietnamese soldiers. Immediately, he ran forward through the blistering hail of enemy fire to provide medical attention for the wounded. As he proceeded to administer first aid he was mortally wounded. Specialist Fourth Class Vesey’s gallantry in action 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, II Field Force Vietnam General Orders No. 3859 (18 September 18 1970)