Raymond John Krupinski
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army

On 30 April 1969, First Lieutenant Raymond John Krupinski was serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), in South Vietnam.

On that day, 1LT Krupinski was platoon leader of a patrol operating in Binh Long Province. As he was positioning his men in an ambush formation, an enemy force opened fire with automatic weapons and rockets. He directed return fire and called the medics to administer aid to the wounded. As he and his machine gun crew were starting to move in on a hostile emplacement, the assistant gunner was wounded along with the medical aidman who tried to reach him. 1LT Krupinski began removing the wounded gunner but, as he pulled the man to safety, he was wounded. Refusing medical treatment, 1LT Krupinski returned to recover the wounded medic and, while trying to rescue the man, he was mortally wounded by enemy fire. 1LT Krupinski'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
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge

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 First Lieutenant (Infantry) Raymond John Krupinski, 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 Company B, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). First Lieutenant Krupinski distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 30 April 1969 while serving as platoon leader of a patrol operating in Binh Long Province. As he was positioning his men in an ambush formation, an enemy force opened fire with automatic weapons and rockets. He immediately directed retaliatory fire and called the medics to administer aid to the wounded. As he and his machine gun crew were attempting to move in on a hostile emplacement, the assistant gunner was wounded as well as the medical aidman who tried to reach him. Lieutenant Krupinski quickly proceeded to remove the wounded gunner. As he was pulling the man to safety, he was wounded. Refusing medical treatment, he returned to the area to recover the medic. As he was heroically attempting to rescue the injured man, he was mortally wounded by enemy fire. First Lieutenant Krupinski'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. 2527 (July 12, 1969)

Honors

The name Raymond J Krupinski is located on Panel 26W Line 85 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

First Lieutenant Raymond John Krupinski is buried at Trinity Cemetery in Erie, Erie County, PA, in Section - Saint Stanislaus, Lot 364.