The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, PFC Armando Villa, who died in the service of his country on July 15th, 1967 in Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam. The cause of death was listed as Small Arms/AW. At the time of his death Armando was 19 years of age. He was from Brentwood, California. Armando is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Panel 23E, Line 79.
The decorations earned by PFC Armando Villa include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star with V, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation.
Armando is buried at Fort Bliss National Cemetery, Plot D, Grave 2683
I was his Medic.
117 Ellen Lane
Morgantown,WV26505USA
Hola!
A truly nice guy. I can't remember if he carried an M79, he may have. My college Spanish was no bueno! This gentlemen had a friendly way about him, and his family must have been wonderful. He was fatally wounded July 15, 1967 twenty miles southwest of Duc Pho in the mountains. I cannot remember for sure but I think he was carrying some machinegun ammo. The fighting was so fierce that day one machinegunner deserted his gun and ran back; another machinegunner, Dan Archer, was killed. I did the best I could for Armando, but his wound was too deep. He was put on a stretcher and hoisted up from beneath a triple canopy of mountain growth into a CH47 helicopter. We heard later he didn't survive. God bless him, that was one of the nicest dudes I ever met. Hope the family remembers because I do. Ed "Doc" Gerson gerson1@earthlink.net Vietnam 1967-68
Sunday, January 30, 2000
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