A Note from The Virtual Wall
Domingo Borja was a member of a Special Forces reconnaissance team. On February 21, 1967, the team was
operating in Laos near the Laos/South Vietnam border, in extreme northern Saravane Province very near the province boundary with Savannakhet Province. The location is so near Vietnam that some lists locate Borja's area of operations in South Vietnam.
While trying to assist a wounded teammember, Borja was confronted by an enemy soldier. Each fired at the other simultaneously, and both were killed instantly. Both bodies were checked by 2 team members who detected no signs of life whatever.
Because of the enemy presence in the area, the remainder of the team evaded and left the SFC Borja's body behind for later recovery. Subsequent efforts over the next 5 days to locate and recover the remains were unsuccessful.
As of 18 Jul 2006 Sergeant First Class Domingo Borja's remains have not been repatriated.
HQ US ARMY, VIETNAM,
APO San Francisco 96375
12 April 1967
GENERAL ORDERS
NUMBER 1648
AWARD OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS
1. TC 320. The following AWARD is announced posthumously.
Domingo R S Borja, Sergeant First Class
Command and Control Detachment, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
| Awarded: |
Distinguished Service Cross |
| Date action: |
21 February 1967 |
| Theater: |
Republic of Vietnam |
| Reason: |
For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Command and Control Detachment, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Sergeant First Class Borja distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 21 February 1967 while serving as Special Forces advisor to a Vietnamese reconnaissance team. Sergeant Borja was leading his patrol towards a much used trail when voices in a North Vietnamese dialect were heard. As he and another man moved forward to investigate, he received a burst of machine gun fire. Reacting instantaneously, but calmly, Sergeant Borja fired and killed three of the enemy. As the other man moved forward to capture the enemy weapons, he was hit in the chest by another burst of fire. Sergeant Borja again fired, killed the attackers, and ran out to drag the man back to safety. Disregarding his exposure to fire from an estimated company of insurgents, he brought the man back to the unit, then led them out of the area. As they moved, the casualty and several other men became separated from the main force. Again ignoring the danger, Sergeant Borja returned to unite the straggling element with the leaders. Just as he located the small group, he saw an insurgent about to fire on them. The two men saw each other simultaneously and fired, killing each other instantly. Sergeant Borja's selfless actions prevented his team from suffering heavy casualties and enabled it to complete its mission. Sergeant First Class Borja's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
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