Robert Guy Daniel
Master Sergeant, U.S. Army

On 16 March 1969, Master Sergeant Robert Guy Daniel was serving with Detachment B-20, Company B, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, in South Vietnam.

On that day, MSG Daniel was in the vicinity of Ben Het Special Forces Camp as Operations Sergeant of a mobile strike force company during an attempt to capture a hill held by a heavily-armed, well-entrenched enemy force. While exposing himself to intense hostile automatic weapons and machine gun fire, MSG Daniel relayed valuable information to the battalion headquarters, called in gun ship strikes and secured a landing zone for resupply. He then led an assault to secure a portion of the bunker complex, personally killing an enemy soldier. After his company commander was killed, he took command of the unit, leading it through the communists' fusillade until heavy enemy mortar fire threatened to pin down his men. Knowing that his company could be annihilated if the attack stalled because the enemy covered all avenues of escape, MSG Daniel single-handedly assaulted a bunker to the front. Although wounded by enemy grenades, he continued to advance. As he hurled grenades into the fortification, killing 6 communists, he was mortally wounded by small arms fire from another bunker. His men were inspired by his courageous actions and overran the remaining positions. MSG Daniel's extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

MSG Daniel died of his wounds later that day at the 71st Evacuation Hospital.

Medals, Awards, Badges & Tabs

Distinguished Service Cross
Bronze Star Medal (Merit)
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal with 5 Bronze Knots
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge
Master 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 Master Sergeant Robert G. Daniel (ASN: RA-14454709), 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. Master Sergeant Daniel distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 16 March 1969 in the vicinity of Ben Het Special Forces Camp as operations sergeant of a mobile strike force company during an attempt to capture a hill held by a heavily armed, well-entrenched enemy force. While exposing himself to intense hostile automatic weapons and machine gun fire, Sergeant Daniel relayed valuable information to the battalion headquarters, called in gun ship strikes and secured a landing zone for resupply. He then led an assault to secure a portion of the bunker complex, personally killing an enemy soldier. Shortly afterwards his company commander was killed and he took charge of the unit, leading it through the communists' fusillade until heavy enemy mortar fire threatened to pin his men down. Realizing that his company could be annihilated if the attack stalled because the enemy covered all avenues of escape, Sergeant Daniel single-handedly assaulted a bunker to the front. Although wounded by enemy grenades, he continued to advance. As he hurled grenades into the fortification, killing six communists, he was mortally wounded by small arms fire from another bunker. His men were inspired by his courage and succeeded in overrunning the remaining positions. Master Sergeant Daniel's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 1421 (April 23, 1969)

Honors

The name Robert G Daniel is located on Panel 29W Line 52 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

Master Sergeant Robert Guy Daniel is buried at Lafayette Memorial Park in Fayetteville, Cumberland County, NC, in LakeView # 104.