Corporal Barry Edward Feldmann
1st Platoon, Company B
1st Bn. (Mechanized), 50th Inf.

Corporal Barry Feldmann was killed as he carried the radio for the 1st Platoon Leader, Lieutenant Brian Thomas, as "B" Company came under heavy fire from the village of Truong Lam (2) on the 10th of December, 1967. Brian Thomas, although seriously wounded, survived his wounds. Barry Feldmann was awarded the Bronze Star with "V" Device (For Valor) for his actions that day.

Fourteen 50th Infantry men were killed in the Battle of Tam Quan, which was the major battle of the 1st Air Cavalry Division's "Operation Pershing" on the coastal Bong Son Plains in and around Binh Dinh Province. 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) units, including the 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 50th Infantry, and the 40th ARVN Regiment engaged the NVA/VC including the 7th and 8th Battalions of the 22nd NVA Regiment, 3rd NVA Division in a running battle from the 6th through the 20th of December, 1967.

The engagement began on the 6th of December when a scout helicopter from "A" Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry observed an antenna and received small arms fire from a native village structure in the vicinity of the village of Dai Dong (2) near the city of Tam Quan, from which the ensuing battle took it's name. Late in the afternoon, a Platoon of Infantryman (Blues) from Troop "A" were sent to investigate the antenna and became pinned down by intense enemy automatic and small arms fire. Reinforcements from "B" Troop, 1st of the 8th Cavalry and a "Ready Reaction" platoon of Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) from "A" Company, 1st Battalion, 50th Infantry were able to successfully remove the 9th Cavalry elements that had been pinned down.

The following morning, on December 7th, after prep artillery fire and CS Gas deployment, the "A" Company Ready Reaction force was called in to help the now engaged troops from "A" Troop, 1st of the 8th Cavalry in the same vicinity. LT Hinton's RTO was killed in this action. Dudney Arlentino of Coolidge, Arizona became the first 50th Infantry man killed in the battle.

At this time, other 50th Infantry elements became fully involved in the battles as the enemy forces were located and attacked by our "B" and "D" Companies. Actions on the 10th of December saw ten men killed from "B" Company at the village of Truong Lam (2) and three men killed from "D" Company at the village of My An (2).

Most sources list the enemy (VC/NVA) dead for the battle at 650 and friendly forces lost a total of 58 men.

1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)

CITATION:

"For heroism, not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military operations against a hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Private First Class Feldmann distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous action on 10 December 1967, while serving as a rifleman with Company B, 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 50th Infantry during a search and destroy mission near Bong Son, Republic of Vietnam. When his unit became heavily engaged with a large enemy force, Private First Class Feldmann exposed himself to the hostile fire as he placed suppressive fire on the hostile positions. While attempting to change his position, Private First Class Feldmann was mortally wounded. Private First Class Feldmann's display of personal bravery and devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army."

Barry Edward Feldmann was posthumously promoted to the rank of Corporal.