Kenneth Allen Buys

Sergeant
1ST PLT, D CO, 1ST BN, 503RD INFANTRY, 173 ABN BDE
Army of the United States
12 September 1947 - 03 March 1968
Anaheim, California
Panel 42E Line 047

173 ABN BDE 503RD INF RGT
Combat Infantry

Bronze Star, Purple Heart, National Defense, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign

Airborne!

The database page for Kenneth Allen Buys

02 Sep 2001

Bronze Star

KENNETH A BUYS
SERGEANT
UNITED STATES ARMY

Died 3 March 1968 in the Republic of Vietnam
while protecting his men.



DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
HEADQUARTERS 173D AIRBORNE BRIGADE (SEPARATE)
APO San Francisco 96250

27 March 1968

GENERAL ORDERS
NUMBER 753

AWARD OF THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL FOR HEROISM

1. TC 320. The following AWARD is announced posthumously.

BUYS, KENNETH A. RA19853088 SERGEANT E5 UNITED STATES ARMY,
Company D (Provisional) 1st Battalion (Airborne) 503d Infantry
  Awarded: Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device
  Date Action: 3 March 1968
  Theater: Republic of Vietnam
  Reason: For heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force. Sergeant Buys distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 3 March 1968 in the Republic of Vietnam. On this day, the 1st platoon was the lead platoon for Company D and Sergeant Buys' squad was the lead squad. Sergeant Buys was the lead man when he discovered three enemy bunkers well concealed a few meters to his front and flanks. Knowing his entire element was in the line of fire of the bunkers, he knew the only action to take was to surprise the enemy and give his men the few precious seconds needed to seek cover. With this in mind, he initiated contact with a savage one man attack, catching the enemy totally off guard and allowing his men to get out of the line of fire. With no cover for him to hide behind, he held his ground putting out a devastating volume of aggressive fire until an enemy machinegun burst mortally wounded him. Sergeant Buys' outstanding display of aggressiveness, devotion to duty, and personal bravery were in keeping with the highest military traditions and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
  Authority: By direction of the President under the provisions of Executive Order 11046, 24 August 1962, and USARV Message 16695, AVA-S, 1 July 1966.
FOR THE COMMANDER:
OFFICIAL:



KEITH B WOLFF
Captain, AGC
Assistant Adjutant General
JOHN M. BYRNE
Major, AGC
Adjutant General

"It is better to have lived one day as a lion
than one thousand days as a sheep."

Our medic, PFC Don Lattman, was killed when he tried to go to Kenny's aid.

Larry Speed
gmldspeed@peoplepc.com

A Note from The Virtual Wall

On 03 March 1968 the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry, lost eight men in a bitter fight in Kontum Province:
  • C Company:
  • D Company:


The point-of-contact for this memorial is
one who remembers,
Larry Speed
gmldspeed@peoplepc.com



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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 02 Sep 2001
Last updated 07/11/2006