Nickname(s) Mad Cossack Died April 24, 1970 Name Myron Diduryk | Rank Major Buried at Fort Benning, Georgia | |
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Allegiance United States of America Battles/wars Vietnam War
Battle of Ia Drang Awards Silver Star (2)
Bronze Star (2) (1 "V")
Purple Heart (1) Place of burial Fort Benning, Georgia, United States Battles and wars Battle of Ia Drang, Vietnam War | ||
Service/branch United States Army | ||
Myron F. Diduryk (July 15, 1938 to April 24, 1970) was a Ukrainian-American United States Army Major, who played a key role as an infantry company commander in the Battle of Ia Drang, the first major battle of the Vietnam War. His exploits in that battle were described by Hal Moore in, We Were Soldiers Once and Young. Moore said that Diduryk was, “… the finest battlefield company commander I had ever seen, bar none.” Diduryk was killed in action on his second tour in Vietnam.
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Early life and education
Born in Muzhliv, Tarnopol Voivodeship, (today - western Ukraine), in 1938, Diduryk immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1950. His family settled in Somerville, New Jersey. After graduating from St. Peter's Preparatory School in Jersey City, New Jersey, he enrolled at Saint Peter’s College in Jersey City, New Jersey, where he was a member of Company N-8 National Society of Pershing Rifles and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from Saint Peter's and was commissioned as a Regular Army Officer on June 5, 1960.
Career
Diduryk completed Airborne School and Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia. He served tours of duty at Fort Benning and in Germany. He was married and the father of two children.
During Myron Diduryk’s first tour of duty in Vietnam he served as the company commander of Bravo Company 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). In November 1965 he played a key role in the Battle of the Ia Drang, the first major battle of the Vietnam War. His exploits in that battle are described by General Hal Moore in his best-selling book, We Were Soldiers Once and Young … in which Moore describes Diduryk as “… the finest battlefield company commander I had ever seen, bar none.”
Diduryk was subsequently promoted to Major and returned to Vietnam in October 1969, as the operations officer of the 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division. On April 24, 1970, his battalion commander ordered his command helicopter to land and check out a North Vietnamese soldier who had been killed by the door gunner. As Major Diduryk emerged from his helicopter, he was struck in the stomach and killed by a bullet in an attack by North Vietnamese soldiers.
Diduryk is buried at Fort Benning Cemetery, Georgia. The Ukrainian American Veterans Post 30 in South River, New Jersey was named in his honor. Diduryk's name is listed on Panel 11W, Line 44 of the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Wall in Washington, DC. There is also a paver stone dedicated in his memory at the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Holmdel, N.J.