PETERSEN, DANNY J.
Rank and organization: Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, Company B, 4th Battalion, 23d Infantry, 25th Infantry Division
Place: Tay Ninh Province, Republic of Vietnam
PETERSEN, DANNY J.
Rank and organization: Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, Company B, 4th
Battalion, 23d Infantry, 25th Infantry Division
Place: Tay Ninh Province, Republic of Vietnam
Date: 9 January 1970
Entered service at: Kansas City, Missouri
Born: 11 March 1949, Horton, Kansas
Citation:
Sp4 Petersen distinguished himself while serving as an armored personnel
carrier commander with Company B during a combat operation against a North
Vietnamese Army Force estimated to be of battalion size.
During the initial contact with the enemy, an armored personnel carrier was disabled and the crewmen were pinned down by the heavy onslaught of enemy small arms, automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenade fire. Sp4 Petersen immediately maneuvered his armored personnel carrier to a position between the disabled vehicle and the enemy. He placed suppressive fire on the enemy's well-fortified position, thereby enabling the crew members of the disabled personnel carrier to repair their vehicle. He then maneuvered his vehicle, while still under heavy hostile fire to within 10 feet of the enemy's defensive emplacement. After a period of intense fighting, his vehicle received a direct hit and the driver was wounded. With extraordinary courage and selfless disregard for his own safety, Sp4 Petersen carried his wounded comrade 45 meters across the bullet-swept field to a secure area. He then voluntarily returned to his disabled armored personnel carrier to provide covering fire for both the other vehicles and the dismounted personnel of his platoon as they withdrew. Despite heavy fire from 3 sides, he remained with his disabled vehicle, alone and completely exposed. Sp4 Petersen was standing on top of his vehicle, firing his weapon, when he was mortally wounded. His heroic and selfless actions prevented further loss of life in his platoon. Sp4 Petersen's conspicuous gallantry and extraordinary heroism are in the highest traditions of the service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
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--- General / Personal ---
Last name: PETERSEN
First name: DANNY JOHN
Home of Record (official): ATCHISON
State (official): KS
Date of Birth: Friday, March 11, 1949
Sex: Male
Race: Caucasian
Marital Status: Single
--- Military ---
Branch: Army
Rank: SP4
Serial Number: 515548546
Component: Selective Service
Pay grade: E4
MOS (Military Occupational Specialty code): 11B20
--- Action ---
Start of Tour: Monday, August 4, 1969
Date of Casualty: Friday, January 9, 1970
Age at time of loss: 20
Casualty type: (A1) Hostile, died
Reason: Multiple fragmentation wounds (Ground casualty)
Country: South VietNam
Province: Tay Ninh
The Wall: Panel 14W - Row 020
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