Born: July 31, 1935
Master Sergeant, United States Army Service# 19475676 DET A-302 (MIKE FORCE), A CO,
5TH SPECIAL FORCES GROUP, US ARMY–VIETNAM Date of Enlistment: 1953
Home or Place of Enlistment: Sandpoint, Idaho Start of Tour: April 20, 1966 MIA: November 4, 1966 Location: Tay Ninh Province, South Vietnam |
Staff Sergeant (SSG) William Balt Hunt, who joined the U.S. Army from Idaho, was a member of Detachment A-302, 5th Special Forces Group. On November 4, 1966, he was a passenger aboard a helicopter on a resupply and medical evacuation mission for a U.S.-led Mobile Strike Force company that was under attack by enemy forces in Tay Ninh Province, South Vietnam. When the helicopter reached the company’s location, SSG Hunt departed to make room for the wounded. He then voluntarily participated in the Mobile Strike Force company’s defense. The next day, the company’s defensive position was overrun, and SSG Hunt became severely wounded. Staff Sergeant Hunt, along with one American and two South Vietnamese, were able to evade capture for several hours, until SSG Hunt indicated that he would be unable to continue. The other three men continued on without him, and a helicopter extracted them from a nearby landing zone. His remains were not recovered and he was declared dead on April 7, 1976. After the incident, the Army promoted SSG Hunt to the rank of Master Sergeant (MSG).
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