Ken Buys
1947-09-12 1968-03-03From Bo Jones:
Larry Brown, Kenny Buys and I joined the Army in September of '65. We were in the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam. Sadly Kenny did not come home with Larry and me.
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Kenneth Buys, SGT, Army, Anaheim CA, 03Mar68 42E047 - The Virtual Wall®
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
From the Wall of Faces: http://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/7232/KENNETH-A-BUYS
tribute by Sue Wright BennettI think of Kenny often and carry his shirtless soldier photo in my cell phone so I can show anyone anytime they speak to me of the Vietnam War.. Whenever I see a Vietnam Wall Memorial, I find and touch his name. What a true hero he was.
tribute by Judy Zeoli - BaintoFrom the Wall USAFellow Soldier, of the 173, AirborneI met Kenny, during his second, tour in Nam, as we were in the same Company. I spoke to Kenny days before he got killed and wondered, why anyone would volunteer to come back to what we knew as hell. I remember well the day he got killed. He took some heavy fire to his stomach and chest area. He died quickly. I too, got wounded the same day, March 3/1968, and lived to tell a story or two. Kenny was a good looking kid and was looked up to by many of us. God bless you Ken, you paid the ultimate sacrafice for us all. Our memories of you will live on in our hearts.
tribute by Nancy Guthery