Daniel Albert Hennessy
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army

Daniel Albert Hennessy was born on 4 June 1943 in Newtown, PA, the son of Lawrence A. and Alyce S. Hennessy. He was a 1960 graduate of Council Rock High School in Newtown.

On 28 December 1966, First Lieutenant Daniel Albert Hennessy was serving with Company B, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), in South Vietnam.

On that day, 1LT Hennessy was serving as a platoon leader with elements of the 8th Cavalry in a search and destroy mission in Quan Hoai An Province. When his platoon received intense hostile fire from a nearby village, 1LT Hennessy led an assault on the Viet Cong positions. Moving through a hail of bullets, he moved to the head of the platoon and was the first man to enter the hamlet. 1LT Hennessy engaged the enemy with his rifle and hand grenades. He then called for artillery strikes within 10 meters of his own position, which allowed his platoon to reach cover at the edge of a rice paddy. As he shouted orders and pointed out hostile emplacements, 1LT Hennessy was critically wounded by Viet Cong fire. Knowing that his wounds were fatal, he continued to direct his men until finally turning over command to his platoon sergeant with his last words. His demonstrated profound concern for his men inspired them to defeat the entrenched hostile force. 1LT Hennessy'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.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge
Parachutist Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Daniel A. Hennessy (0-5326579), First Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). First Lieutenant Hennessy distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 28 December 1966 while serving as a platoon leader with elements of the 8th Cavalry in a search and destroy mission in Quan Hoai An Province. When his platoon suddenly received intense hostile fire from a nearby village, Lieutenant Hennessy dauntlessly led an assault on the Viet Cong positions. Maneuvering through a hail of bullets, he moved to the head of the platoon and was the first man to enter the hamlet. Unmindful of his vulnerable position, Lieutenant Hennessy fearlessly engaged the enemy with his rifle and hand grenades. He then called for artillery strikes within ten meters of his own position, which allowed his platoon to reach cover at the edge of a rice paddy. As he shouted orders and pointed out hostile emplacements, Lieutenant Hennessy was critically wounded by Viet Cong fire. Realizing that his wounds were fatal, he courageously continued to direct his men, until finally turning over command to his platoon sergeant with his last words. Demonstrating unimpeachable valor and profound concern for the men under his command, he inspired them to overwhelm and defeat the entrenched hostile force. First Lieutenant Hennessy'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.

Headquarters, US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 1658 (April 13, 1967)

Honors

The name Daniel A Hennessy is located on Panel 13E Line 91 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

First Lieutenant Daniel Albert Hennessy is buried at Saint Andrews Catholic Church Cemetery in Newtown, Bucks County, PA.