DUANE EDWARD LITZINGER

Company A 1/22 Infantry

4th Infantry Division

KIA 02/16/1968

Army - SSGT - E6

Age: 33
Race: Caucasian
Sex: Male
Date of Birth Mar 14, 1934
From: WAITE PARK, MN
Religion: ROMAN CATHOLIC
Marital Status: Married

SSGT - E6 - Army - Regular
4th Infantry Division
MOS: 11D40: Armor Reconnaissance Specialist
Length of service 14 years
His tour began on Jul 1, 1967
Casualty was on Feb 6, 1968
In KONTUM, SOUTH VIETNAM
Hostile, died while missing, GROUND CASUALTY
MULTIPLE FRAGMENTATION WOUNDS
Body was recovered

Panel 37E - Line 60

Duane Litzinger was killed during the Battle of Kontum, Tet Offensive 1968,
at grid reference AR902933, approximately 18 kilometers northeast of Kontum City
during the assault on Hill 684 as part of 3rd Platoon A Company 1/22 Infantry.

He left behind his wife, one son and two daughters.

SSG Duane Litzinger's decorations

Duane Litzinger received the Distinguished Service Cross for actions in Korea in 1951

Below is the citation for that award:

The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved
July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Private First Class Duane E. Litzinger,
United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy
of the United Nations while serving as a Squad Leader with an Infantry Company of the 1st Cavalry Division.
Private First Class Litzinger distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces
in the vicinity of Mago-ri, Korea, on 11 and 12 October 1951. On that date, Private Litzinger's company was engaged
in an assault against well-fortified enemy emplacements. In the opening phases of the attack, Private Litzinger
was assigned to provide overhead machine-gun fire to support the attacking infantry. The heavy enemy counter-fire
soon disabled his weapon and wounded two of his comrades. Exposing himself to the direct observation
of the enemy, he fearlessly moved to the two men and evacuated them to safety. Upon returning to the battle
Private Litzinger, armed only with his carbine, single-handedly advanced against a hostile automatic-weapon
emplacement and killed the crew manning the machine gun. Later, when another attack was launched by the
friendly troops, Private Litzinger, observing that his comrades were pinned down by intense enemy
automatic-weapons fire, organized five men and led them against the hostile bunkers. Working their way
to within a few yards of the enemy positions, the men assaulted the emplacements with grenades under
the direction of Private Litzinger and destroyed three of them. With the enemy automatic-weapons silenced,
the friendly troops were able to renew their assault and secure their objective. The platoon was immediately
arranged in a defense perimeter, with Private Litzinger and two comrades in a forward position. When the
fanatical enemy counterattack came, Private Litzinger's emplacement bore the brunt of the assault.
Fighting fiercely and with great determination, he held his ground, repulsing the enemy with extremely heavy casualties.

General Orders: Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 1003 (December 20, 1951)

Action Date: October 11 & 12, 1951

Service: Army

Rank: Private First Class

Company: Infantry Company

Division: 1st Cavalry Division

Duane Litzinger being awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
from Major General T.L. Harold, the Commanding General of the 1st Cavalry Division

Duane Litzinger enlisted in the US Army at the age of 15, a fact which was not discovered by the Army
until he was of legal age. He was only 17 years old when he performed the actions for which he was awarded
the Distinguished Service Cross.

For his leadership qualities in combat in Korea, Litzinger was offered a battlefield commission, which he refused.

Burial:
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington
Arlington County
Virginia, USA
Plot: Section 33 Site 8070

Grave marker for Duane Litzinger

Photo by David McInturff from the Find A Grave website

The grave of SSG Duane Litzinger in Arlington Cemetery
Section 33 Plot 8070 with Arlington House (Lee Mansion) in the background on the right

Photo by David McInturff from the Find A Grave website

For a tribute to Duane Litzinger click on the following link:

Together We Served

BACK