VIETNAM - WIDMER, KIM WILLIAM

Widmer, Kim William

VIETNAM - WIDMER, KIM WILLIAM
WIDMER, KIM WILLIAM

Rank: Specialist 4

Unit: L Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment

MOS: 11B – Infantryman

Awards: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device and Two Oak Leaf Clusters, 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

Enlisted by: Regular

Date of birth: 11-Sep-1950

Hometown: Spokane, Washington

Marital status: Never Married

Campaign: Vietnam Conflict

Entered service: 19-Aug-1969

Start of tour: 20-Jan-1970

Incident date: 25-Oct-1970

Date of casualty: 25-Oct-1970

Age at death: 20

Cause of death: Hostile, died. Explosive Device. Other explosive device.
Kim William Widmer was killed while on a combat operation when a booby trap detonated. / On reconnaissance patrol with two other members of his unit.  One of the men stepped on a trip wire which detonated an anti-personnel mine set by the Viet Cong.

Three Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
PFC Dennis Charles Cannan
SP4 Timothy Robert Ownbey
SP4 Kim William Widmer

Location of fatality: Binh Duong, South Vietnam, XT 972 391

Place of interment: Holy Cross Cemetery, Spokane, Washington, USA

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

Vietnam Veterans Memorial panel and row: 06W 021 (view Vietnam Veterans Memorial link in a new window)

 

ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL

ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE AND OAK LEAF CLUSTER
POSTHUMOUS

SPECIALIST FOUR KIM WILLIAM WIDMER
25 OCTOBER 1970
L TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON

11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT

Specialist Four Widmer distinguished himself by heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force on 25 October 1970 while serving as a vehicle commander with Troop L, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Specialist Widmer twice took the point position to investigate Troop L’s anti-personnel mine devices with which the enemy had been suspected of tampering. Confirming this at the first site, he approached the second location fully realizing the danger involved and detonated the device the enemy had reset. His supreme sacrifice represented the ultimate in courage and dedication to service. Specialist Four Widmer’s 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. 4518 (23 December 1970)