Leslie L. Brucker, Jr.
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army

On 25 August 1968, Staff Sergeant Leslie L. Brucker, Jr. was serving with Detachment B-20, Company B, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, in South Vietnam.

On that day, SSG Brucker was serving as a medic and platoon leader of a mobile strike force company during an assault against fortified positions held by North Vietnamese Army troops inside the Duc Lap Special Forces camp. He was leading his platoon forward under intense enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire when he saw his company commander and a fellow medic felled by the fusillade. SSG Brucker rushed across open ground through the withering hail of bullets to reach the fallen aidman and, while treating him, he was asked to help carry the wounded company commander out of the line of enemy fire. SSG Brucker moved the officer to safety with the help of another American, whom he then instructed to stop the bleeding unit he returned with his aid kit. Ignoring heavy concentrations of machine gun fire directed at his position, SSG Brucker returned to the injured medic. As he collected his aid kit and prepared to drag his comrade to cover, he was mortally wounded. SSG Brucker's extraordinary heroism and selfless actions earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards, Badges and Tabs

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge
Parachutist Badge
Special Forces Tab

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Staff Sergeant Leslie L. Brucker, Jr. (ASN: RA-23489341), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Detachment B-20, Company B, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Staff Sergeant Brucker distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 25 August 1968 as a medic and platoon leader of a mobile strike force company during an assault against fortified positions held by North Vietnamese Army troops inside the Duc Lap Special Forces camp. He was leading his platoon forward under intense enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire when he saw his company commander and a fellow medic felled by the fusillade. Disregarding his safety, Sergeant Brucker rushed across open ground through the withering hail of bullets to reach the fallen aidman. while treating the medic he was asked to help carry his wounded company commander out of the line of enemy fire. Sergeant Brucker moved the officer to safety with the help of another American, whom he then instructed to stop the bleeding unit he returned with his aid kit. Ignoring a heavy concentrations of machine gun fire directed at his position, Sergeant Brucker returned to the injured medic. As he collected his aid kit and prepared to drag his comrade to cover, he was mortally wounded. Staff Sergeant Brucker extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the Unites States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 4566 (October 2, 1968)

Honors

The name Leslie L Brucker Jr is located on Panel 46W Line 11 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

Staff Sergeant Leslie L. Brucker, Jr. is buried at Forest Cemetery in Circleville, Pickaway County, OH.