- SURNAME
Machen
- FORENAME
Billy Wayne
- UNIT
U.S.N. Seal Team 1
- RANK
Radarman Second Class
- NUMBER
5211961
- DATE OF DEATH
19th August 1966
- AGE
27
- GRAVESITE
Willow Oak B.C. Cemetery,Gilmer,Upshur County,Texas
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Dallas,Texas
born 20.12.1938 Gilmer,Texas
son of Buford Taylor and late Claudia (nee Seago) Machen
husband of Carol Machen (2 children)
entered service 9.7.1957
completed basic training,NTC San Diego,California September 1957
class 024
Naval Station Treasure Island,California (radarman training)
USS Frank Knox April 1958 - August 1959
Submarine School,Naval submarine Base New London,Connecticut September - December 1959
USS Raton January - April 1960
UDT Training (Class 024),NAB Coronado,California April - August 1960
UDT-12 September 1960 - July 1962
honorable discharge July 1962
attended University of Texas 1962-65
re-enlisted February 1965
Seal Team 1 February 1965 - July 1966
award Silver Star (posthumous)
promoted Radarman First Class posthumously
DOW received 16.8.66 Gia Dinh Province,South Vietnam
Vietnam Veterans Memorial,Washington,D.C. Panel 10E Row 019
DATE OF DEATH:
19-Aug-1966AWARD:
https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/machen-billy-wayne.29666/CITATION:
Silver Star : The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Radarman Second Class Billy Wayne Machen (NSN: 5211961), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as a point man for Sea, Air, Land Team ONE (SEAL-1), in the Rung Sat Special Zone, Vietnam, on 19 August 1966. Petty Officer Machen led the team through Viet Cong territory in search of two camouflaged sampans reported by friendly elements. Upon reaching a clearing in the dense jungle, he halted the patrol and proceeded into the clearing alone. Spotting an enemy ambush, he chose to expose himself to hostile fire by firing his weapon on the enemy positions rather than to retrace his steps and thereby compromise his team members' position. By this courageous act he enabled his comrades to seek cover, form a hasty defensive perimeter and escape unharmed after suppressing the enemy fire. Petty Officer Machen was fatally wounded by the initial enemy fusillade.
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