Information in the Daily Staff Journal, G-3 operations, Americal Division was recorded on 19 March, at 1600 hours that Charlie and Alpha Companies 2 Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 196th Light Infantry Brigade at 0845H received heavy automatic weapons fire from grid BT 173130 and BT 162118. The results were 2 U.S. Killed in Action (KIA), 5 U.S. Wounded in action (WIA) Evcuated (E). Units returned fire with small arms. Artillery and helicopter gun ships were also employed. Medevac "dust off" completed by 1004H. ll US WIA and KIA were evacuated. Gun ships received fire, and broke station at 1031H. At 1151H, 2/1 Commanding Officer in Command & Control helicopter received 5-6 rounds automatic weapons fire from 4-5 weapons. Another US WIA(E). Alpha Company engaged estimated North Vietnamese Army (NVA) platoon arranged in a horseshoe position. Company pulled back and joined Bravo Company of 2/1st Inf still receiving scattered small arms fire. On 20 March at 0315H, Delta Company 2/1st Infantry reported that at BT 173113 at 0130H, received 6 to 8 82mm mortar rounds with the results of 2 US KIA and 5 US WIA. At 1210H, it was reported that Bravo and Delta Companies, 2/1 Infantry engaged enemy from BT 164113 at 1150H, receiving mortar fire; Air Strikes called in at that time and B Company moving into reinforce. Results: received 14 rounds of enemy 82mm Mortars with 5 US KIA and 11 WIA (E). Dust off completed at 1235H. Gun ship expended ammunition and artillery called in with negative results. On 19-20 March 1969 the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry lost 17 men in a fight on the Khang River west of Tien Phuoc, Quang Tin Province. They were: A Company: SGT Joe Stephen Huston, Plano, TX SGT Jesus C. Oleta, Norwalk, CA SP4 Brad Donald Chriss, Pompano Beach, FL CPL Richard Lee Fiffe, Concordia, KS CPL Johnnie Ray Hanson, Hazardville, CT SP4 Thomas Joseph McMahon, Lewiston, ME (medic, HHC) (Medal of Honor) SP4 William Daniel Overstreet, Kountze, TX PFC Gary Lynn Hosko, Muskegon, MI B Company: SGT Jimmy Fred Burchfield, Whitewright, TX (Bronze Star) SP4 Walter Lewis Moses, Wooster, OH (Dist Svc Cross) SP4 Raul Victor Perez, Chicago, IL CPL Dennis Allen Smith, Gridley, CA D Company: SGT Richard Ray Maynard, Sturgis, SD SP4 Douglas Glyn Edwards, Columbia, MO SP4 Bill Gregory Lee, Tucson, AZ SP4 Larry Michael Whitis, Indianapolis, IN PFC Robert Arnold Tate, Charleston, WV Chriss was listed as missing in action on the 19th and he was recovered on the 22nd of March. His family was notified on the 23rd. Department of the Army Headquarters AMERICAL Division APO San Francisco 96374 General Orders Number 2644                                                                        17 April 1969 Award of the Bronze Star Medal 1. TC 320.   The following AWARD is announced posthumously. CHRISS, BRAD D. US 53581893 (SSAN 133-38-0683) SPECIALIST FOUR, Company A, 2d Battalion, 1st Infantry, 196th Infantry Brigade Awarded: Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device Date of action: 19 March 1969 Theater: Republic of Vietnam Reason: For heroism, not involving aerial flight, in connection with military operations against a hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Specialist Four Chriss distinguished himself with exceptionally valorous actions on 19 March 1969 while assigned assistant machine gunner with Company A, 2d Battalion, 1st Infantry, 196th Infantry Brigade. On that date, Specialist Chriss' company was on a combat sweep near the village of Thien Phouc when the point element was ambushed by a well organized enemy force of undetermined size. Disregarding the dangers involved, Specialist Chriss rushed forward to the ambush site and assisted the machine gunner in placing heavy volumes of suppressive fire on enemy positions. When the machine gunner was killed, Specialist Chriss took over and continued to provide covering fire for the exposed friendly forces until he was mortally wounded. Through his self sacrifice, he was credited for saving the lives of many of his fellow soldiers. Specialist Four Chriss' personal herokism and devotion to dut was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the Americal Division, and the United States Army. Authority: By direction of the President, under the provisions of Executive Order 11046, 24 August 1962               FOR THE COMMANDER: OFFICIAL:                                      JOHN W. DONALDSON                                                       Colonel, GS (Signature)                                    Chief of Staff EARL A. WILSON CPT, AGC Asst AG Fort Lauderdale News, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 19 Jun 1969, Thursday, page 3 Specialist Four Brad Donald Chriss was survived by his mother Bettie Jane (Kuebler) Chriss (1930-2020 and father Donald Bert Chriss (1929-1980), brother Gary, sisters Sharon, Cynthia, and Nancy. Brad is buried near his father in Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens North Pompano Beach, Broward County, Florida. - - The Virtual Wall, 30 July 2022

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