David Floyd Able
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army

On 25 August 1967, Staff Sergeant David Floyd Able was serving with 1st Platoon, C Company, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division, in Quang Tin Province, South Vietnam.

On that day, SSG Able was killed in action when he sustained wounds from small arms fire. His body was recovered.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Silver Star Medal
Purple Heart
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge

Silver Star Medal Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Staff Sergeant David Floyd Able (ASN: RA-18655584), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. On 25 May 1967, Staff Sergeant Able distinguished himself while serving as a Platoon Sergeant in Company C, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, on a search and destroy mission near Tam Ky. His platoon was taken under fire by enemy forces using automatic weapons and one member of the point element was wounded. Disregarding his personal safety, Staff Sergeant Able rushed forward through the intense fire, recovered his fallen comrade and returned him to a protected place in a wooded area where the platoon medic rendered first aid. As the platoon placed retaliatory fire on the enemy positions, he started to radio a report of the situation to his platoon leader, but was wounded by a burst of enemy fire. Ignoring his wound, Staff Sergeant Able personally directed the fire of his men and began calling in artillery on the enemy positions. At the same time, he coordinated a sweep of the area by another platoon. He then established an area for the evacuation of the wounded and secured it against attack. As the evacuation helicopter approached the landing zone, Staff Sergeant Able guided it down and then supervised the loading of the wounded, boarding the aircraft himself only after he was sure that the rest of the wounded were already on. His courage and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.

Honors

The name David F Able is located on Panel 25E Line 41 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.