JAMES BIERNACKI

Birth: Mar. 4, 1948
Death: Mar. 14, 1968, Vietnam
United States Army Sergeant served with the 173rd Airborne Brigade. He was killed in action from small arms fire in Darlac, South Vietnam.
Burial: Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery
San Diego, San Diego County, California, USA
Plot: Section S Site 31
James Biernacki was born on 4 March 1948. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Francis J. Biernacki of 643 Tiffany Ct, Chula Vista, CA. He had attended Hilltop High School. His father said that he liked to hunt and was a skilled horseman. He rode a lot out of the stables in Bonita. He is also survived by his brother, Frank, who was attending Hilltop High School.

James Biernacki was a Sergeant in the United States Army. He was a member of the 173rd Airborne Brigade and had been in Vietnam for 10 ½ months. He died from wounds inflicted due to hostile fire on March 14, 1968. [ jmm note, killed by a sniper while serving as the FO for the Weapons Platoon, Alpha Company]   He had just celebrated his 20th birthday only 10 days earlier. He had been decorated four times for gallantry. He had parachute jump wings and had made over 50 jumps. He was killed by a sniper in the central highlands of Vietnam. He was awarded the Bronze Star with combat .V., the Air Medal, and the Purple Heart. He had been in many major battles in Vietnam and was part of an offensive helicopter assault force. He was a native of Chincoteague, VA and his home of record is listed as Chula Vista, CA. A street in Chula Vista has been named in his honor.

His name is listed on the WALL in Washington DC at location 44 East, Row 44. His

name also appears in San Diego at the Veterans peace Memorial and in Memorial Park in Chula Vista. He is buried at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery at location Section S, Site 31. His name also appears on the San Diego Peace Memorial in Balboa Park. His name was also added to the Stardust Spacecraft in a NASA microchip as an outreach program.

Further information can be found at:

http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov/overview/microchip/faq.html

   He joined A Company in the field approx May 10, 1967.  He hailed from Chula Vista.  Anecdote:  He was telling me that Chula Vista is next to San Diego but that the city sucked (I now live in Chula Vista, having moved from Boston long ago)  I told him at the time that if Chula Vista is next to San Diego that it must be beautiful, further, he shouldn’t talk that way about his home town since they might name a street after him if he is killed.  He thought for a moment then said, “If that happens, they can name a street after me in San Diego.”  Note, “Biernacki Place” in Chula Vista is named after him, in a brand new housing development, in a beautiful location of beautiful houses. 

Combat Area Casualties Current File - Records on Military Personnel Who Died, Were Missing in Action or Prisoners of War as a Result of the Vietnam War - Click here to view File

The Coffelt Database - Records with Unit Information on Military Personnel Who Died During the Vietnam War - Click here to view File

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