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IN REMEMBRANCE OF THIS MOST HEROIC UNITED STATES ARMY COMBAT MEDIC, A POSTHUMOUS RECIPIENT OF THE SILVER STAR, other awards, ribbon bars and badges.
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US National Military Cemetery - Beverly National Cemetery Beverly, Burlington County New Jersey, USA Plot: Section J Site 0738
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Vietnam Veterans Memorial "The Wall" in Washington, DC - Howard is among lists the names of more than 58,000 Americans who gave their lives in service to their country.

SPECIALIST 4
HOWARD T. ATKINSON JR.



Date of Birth 19460825 08/25/1946
Service A Army
Component R Regular
Rank SP4 Specialist Fourth Class
Grade and posthumous promotion E4
Service Occupation 91B20 Medical Specialist (ARMY)
Actual Date of Casualty
Actual Date of Death 19690223 02/23/1969
Tour Date 681115 11/15/1968
Posthumous decoration
Casualty Type A2 Hostile, Died of Wounds
Reason D Gun, Small Arms Fire
Air no Air 7 Ground Casualty
Body Recovered
Country VS South Vietnam
Province 22 Tay Ninh - Casualty Location

Home of Record City PHILADELPHIA
Home of Record State Code Pennsylvania

Memorial Wall Location: Panel 32W, Line 88


Served with
HEADQUARTERS & HEADQUARTERS COMPANY
65th COMBAT ENGINEER BATTALION
" FIRST IN LAST OUT "
25th INFANTRY DIVISION

" TROPIC LIGHTNING "
was a posthumous recipient of the

SILVER STAR
PURPLE HEART
NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL
VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL
REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM CAMPAIGN SERVICE MEDAL
and was entitled to wear the
COMBAT MEDIC BADGE

Atkinson began a family tradition when he enlisted in the Army in November 1965: three of his four brothers followed his lead by joining the Armed Forces. The 22-year-old specialist four, a medic with Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 56th Engineer Battalion, 25th Infantry Division, was on his second tour of duty in Vietnam when he died on February 23,1969, in an attack on the Dau Tieng Base Camp. Atkinson saved his sergeant and refused to leave wounded comrades before he lost his own life.


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Medical Corps
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Specialist -4th Grade
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25th Infantry Division

The Battle for Dau-Tieng,
Base, 3Bde, 25 ID

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Battle of Dau Tieng 2/22/1969 Photo Album.

This album contains After Action Photos from Battle of Dau Tieng 2/22/1969 (Photos taken 2/23/1969)


Tab on the picture and it will take you to the
photo album


Click here to Read Tropic Lightning Account Of Battle

Click here to Read After Action Report

Click here to View Newspaper Article (2/23/69)

Click here to read NVA propaganda pamphlet found in our wire a few days after attack
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The annoted Topo map of the Dau Tieng area
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This is an annoted drawing of the DT base camp area.
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THE COMBAT MEDIC BADGE The Medical Corps insignia of branch, modified by the addition of a Greek cross suggesting the Geneva Convention between the wings and the entwined serpents, signifies the recipient's skills and expertise. It is superimposed upon a stretcher alluding to medical field service. The oak symbolizes steadfastness, strength and loyalty. Awarded to members of the Army Medical Department, Naval Medical Department, Air Force Medical Service or Special Forces Medical Sergeant who are in the grade of Colonel or below while assigned or attached to a medical unit of company or smaller size organic to an infantry/special forces unit during any period the unit was engaged in active ground combat subsequent to 6 December 1941. Only one award is authorized for service in Vietnam, Laos, the Dominican Republic, Korea (subsequent to 4 January 1969), El Salvador, Grenada, Panama, Southwest Asia and Somalia, regardless of whether an individual has served in one or more of these areas. Specific eligibility requirements by geographic area are listed in Army Regulation 600-8-22. The Combat Medical Badge was approved on 29 January 1945. In February 1951, the proposal to designate the badge as a one-time award was rescinded and it was approved for subsequent award during specified periods. The addition of stars to indicate subsequent awards was also approved.