Rank: Sergeant
Unit: I Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device and Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge
Unit awards: Presidential Unit Citation, Valorous Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Citation, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: Regular
Date of birth: 16-Aug-1946
Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Start of tour: 13-May-1967
Incident date: 24-Nov-1968
Date of casualty: 24-Nov-1968
Age at death: 22
Cause of death: Hostile, died of wounds. Small Arms Fire. Gun or small arms fire.
Daniel Floyd West died from wound received while commander of a military vehicle on a combat operation when engaged hostile force in firefight. Individual was admitted to 24th Evacuation Hospital, Long Binh, placed on Very Serious Injury (VSI) list, and later expired.
Two Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
SGT Alfred John Small
SGT Daniel Floyd West
Location of fatality: Binh Duong, South Vietnam
Place of interment: Palm Downtown Cemetery, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
View this soldier‘s Find a Grave page (opens in a new window)
BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE AND OAK LEAF CLUSTER
POSTHUMOUS
SERGEANT DANIEL FLOYD WEST
24 NOVEMBER 1968
I TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Sergeant West distinguished himself by heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force on 24 November 1968 while serving with Troop I, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date in the vicinity of Bien Hoa, Sergeant West was acting as point man of a dismounted reconnaissance patrol searching for enemy elements in an area of dense vegetation. Although he was in the most exposed and vulnerable position in the patrol, Sergeant West unhesitatingly led his comrades through the heavy undergrowth, cutting a path for them with his knife. Suddenly, the patrol received a intense and deadly barrage of enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire from an enemy force of unknown size. Sergeant West, in his fully exposed point position, was fatally wounded during the initial burst of fire. Sergeant West’s courage and dedication to duty 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. 587 (10 March 1969)
ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
SERGEANT DANIEL FLOYD WEST
9 MAY 1968
I TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Sergeant West distinguished himself by heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force on 9 May 1968 while serving as a squad leader with Troop I, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date in the vicinity of Bien Hoa, Troop I, was reinforcing a night perimeter when suddenly it was subjected to an intense volume of mortar fire followed by a fierce ground attack by a strong Viet Cong force. Sergeant West immediately organized the cooks and mechanics of the Headquarters Platoon into a rifle squad and positioned them on the portion of the perimeter receiving the brunt of the attack. Disregarding his personal safety, Sergeant West continually exposed himself to the withering barrage of small arms, automatic weapons and rocket fire as he sprinted from position to position, distributing desperately needed ammunition, pointing out targets and giving words of encouragement to his fellow soldiers. Observing several wounded soldiers lying on the battlefield, Sergeant West dashed through the enemy fire to administer first aid treatment and assist in their rapid evacuation. When a number of the insurgents managed to penetrate the perimeter, Sergeant West organized his men and led them in a counterattack, forcing the enemy into full retreat. Sergeant West’s outstanding leadership, unwavering devotion to duty, staunch courage and professional composure under hostile fire saved the lives of many of his comrades and was instrumental in the overwhelming defeat of the enemy force. Sergeant West’s heroic actions 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. 913 (10 August 1968)