- SURNAME
Knudson
- FORENAME
Kenneth Max
- UNIT
503 Infantry Regiment (Airborne) (Company A,2 Bn)
- RANK
Private First Class
- NUMBER
56372540
- DATE OF DEATH
16th March 1966
- AGE
21
- GRAVESITE
Grandview Cemetery,Saco,Phillips County,Montana
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Saco,Montana
born 4.11.1944 Phillips County,Montana
single
award Silver Star
KIA Binh Duong Province,South Vietnam
Vietnam Veterans Memorial,Washington,D.C. Panel 06E Line 15
DATE OF DEATH:
16-Mar-1966CITATION:
Silver Star : (Posthumously) PRIVATE FIRST CLASS KNUDSON distinguished himself on 16 March 1966 while serving as a member of a company during an attack by a large Viet Con Force near Phuoc Vinh, Republic of Vietnam. During the ensuing fire fight, the company sustained several casualties from the assaulting waves of Viet Con. After thirty minutes, word was received that the company's right flank was in grave danger of being overrun due to the numerous casualties received by a hostile .50 calibre machine gun which was positioned at 40 meters to the front. When the order was given to reinforce the right flank platoon, PRIVATE FIRST CLASS KNUDSON, upon arrival in the threatened area, placed accurate fire on the Viet Con's positions and killed four insurgents. Because of heavy machine gun fire on the right flank, his fire team was pinned down and sustained casualties. Realizing the existing danger, PRIVATE FIRST CLASS KNUDSON with complete disregard for his safety, engaged the hostile emplacement in an attaint to silence it. While performing this heroic act, he was mortally wounded by a burst of machine gun fire. His courageous efforts inspired the remaining comrades to hold their positions and eventually defeated the insurgents. PRIVATE FIRST CLASS KNUDSON'S possession of unimpeachable valor in close combat against a numerically superior Viet Con Force was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself and his unit, and the United States Army.
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