Daniel Owen Abernathy was born on November 1, 1946. His home of record is Burlington, NJ. Daniel graduated from Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, MO.
Abernathy served in the US Army and attained the rank of First Lieutenant (1LT). He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 50th Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade.
Abernathy was killed in action on August 24, 1968. He is buried at Beverly National Cemetery in Beverly, NJ.
Biography Information gathered by the 50th Infantry Association Historian:
Lt. Daniel Owen Abernathy arrived in Vietnam in April after a period of jungle training with the Army in the Panama Canal Zone. He enlisted in the Army in June 1966, and attended Officers Candidate School at Fort Knox, KY. He was assigned to “Alpha” Company of the 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 50th Infantry.
At approximately 2:45 A.M. on August 24, 1968, The Bridge that elements of Lt. Abernathy’s platoon was guarding came under heavy ground attack by an estimated reinforced platoon. Small Arms, Automatic Weapons, Grenade and B-40 Rockets were used in the attack. The initial volley of rocket fire hit the command bunker and killed Lt. Abernathy and two others instantly; the ensuing battle saw hand-to-hand combat before the survivors were able to withdrawal with 6 wounded. The bridge was retaken by 3:30 A.M. by elements of the Scout Platoon. For his bravery, Lt. Abernathy was awarded the Bronze Star with “V” for Valor “Posthumously.”
This action took place in Binh Dinh Province between An Khe and Pleiku in the central highlands on Route 19…not far from the infamous Mang Yang Pass where the French were handed a devastating loss during the French Indochina War in the early 1950s.
-Jim Sheppard, 50th Infantry Association Historian
Information provided by 1/50 Battalion Association, Steve DeLorenzi (veteran) and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024
