David Julien Barduson

The database page for David Julien Barduson

23 Aug 2003 I played Taps at his funeral in 1968. Dan teufelhunden71@aol.com

A Note from The Virtual Wall B Company, 2nd Bn, 327th Infantry lost two men as the result of an engagement near Hue/Phu Bai on 24 Feb 1968 - then-SP4 David Barduson, who was killed out-right, and Sergeant Jimmy Flores of San Antonio, Texas. Sergeant Flores was severely wounded and was evacuated to the United States, where he died in Letterman Army Hospital (San Fancisco) on 11 March 1968. The battalion lost a third man as well - PFC Luis A. Colon of New York City, assigned to A Company - but The Virtual Wall cannot determine if both companies were involved in the same engagement. When information for the Wall was compiled, Barduson's date of death was incorrectly transcribed - he is shown in the DoD casualty file as having died on 24 March rather than 24 February. This error is documented in several places - DoD Press Release 203-68 dated 29 Feb 68 lists him as missing in action, while a Department of the Army Form 2496 dated 10 March 1968 says he was reported as missing in action on 24 Feb and was changed to killed in action on 07 March. Finally, the Army Adjutant General's casualty database (the "TAGCEN") records his death as occurring on 24 Feb 68. An identical error was made with respect to a fourth man - then-PFC Douglas M. Bacot of Orangeburg, SC, a combat engineer assigned to A Company, 326th Engineer Bn. Although the DoD casualty file gives his date of death as 24 March, his DA2496 says he was reported as missing in action on 24 Feb and was changed to killed in action on 13 March. His name appears in DoD Press Releases 205-68 dated 01 Mar 68 as missing in action and 243-68 dated 15 Mar 68 as "Missing to dead". Finally, a DD Form 1330 (Gravemarker Application) gives his date of death as 24 Feb 68. Because of the circumstances outlined above, the four men appear on the Wall in three different places: PFC Colon, killed outright and with date of death correctly reported, is on Panel 41 East, line 007. SGT Flores, who died more than two weeks after he was wounded, is on Panel 44 East, line 016. SGT Barduson and CPL Bacot, whose dates of death were incorrectly transcribed, are on Panel 46 East, line 002.

The point-of-contact for this memorial is one who remembers, Dan teufelhunden71@aol.com

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 24 Aug 2003
Last updated 11/20/2011