22 Oct 2002 Carl was drafted into the US Army, as were his two older brothers. We are the sons of a retired Air Force officer. This family photo was taken just before Carl left for Vietnam. Our mother is on the left, then Larry, Barry, Carl, and our father. After his arrival in Vietnam, Carl volunteered for duty with the reconnaissance platoon of E Company, 3/187 Infantry. His Silver Star award gave us some details of what happened to Carl, but we never knew much more than that until I hooked up with Mike Stewart about three years ago after posting a query on the Lost and Found Army web site. He had been trying to locate our family for over thirty years. He was a good friend of Carl's and with him when he was killed in action. Headquarters 101st Airborne Division APO San Francisco 96383 17 March 1969 GENERAL ORDERS NUMBER 2383 AWARD OF THE SILVER STAR (POSTHUMOUS) 1. TC 320. The following AWARD is announced. HORNER, CARL N. M. US56712312 CORPORAL (then PFC) USA Co E 3rd Bn (Abn) 187th Infantry APO San Francisco 96383 Awarded: The Silver Star (Posthumous) Effective Month: March 1969 Date Action: 7 September 1968 Theater: Republic of Vietnam Reason: For gallantry in action in the Republic of Vietnam on 7 September 1968. Private First Class Carl N. Horner distinguished himself on 7 September 1968 while serving as lead rifleman with a reconnaissance platoon on a heliborne operation near Trung Lap, Republic of Vietnam. Landing in an area of open rice paddies, the reconnaissance platoon immediately came under small arms fire from what was later estimated to be a battalion sized force of North Vietnamese Army Regulars hidden in a nearby woodline. Using fire and maneuver tactics, the platoon began moving across two hundred meters of open rice paddies toward a small mound about seventy-five meters from, and running parallel to, the woodline. With complete disregard for his own safety, Private First Class Horner repeatedly left positions of cover behind rice paddy dikes and crossed open terrain as he led the first squad. When the platoon reached the mound, Private First Class Horner fearlessly stood up and led the platoon in an aggressive assault on the woodline. Seven concealed enemy machine guns suddenly initiated fire. Surprised by this barrage of small arms, automatic weapons, and rocket propelled grenade fire, the platoon was forced to make maximum use of the limited available cover in the rice paddies. To draw the enemy's attention and fire to himself, Private First Class Horner repeatedly stood up and fired quick bursts at the enemy with his M-16 rifle. As a result, several of his comrades were able to pull back to more secure positions. Private First Class Horner then noticed a wounded comrade lying in an unprotected position near an enemy machine gun. He immediately charged into the open in an assault on the position. Although he was mortally wounded in the attempt, others were able to take advantage of the diversion to move the wounded man to safety. Private First Class Horner's personal bravery and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army. Authority: By direction of the President of the United States under the provisions of the Act of Congress established 9 July 1918.

Contact Us

© Copyright 1997-2019 www.VirtualWall.org, Ltd ®(TM)

Last update 08/15/2019.