1st Cavalry Division patch
D Co. 2/8 CAV
Angry Skipper Archive
JC
James
Cardwell
CPL  ·  Range  ·  11B · Light Weapons Infantry
KIA · 1971-04-20
In-Country Service
1970-10-30 – 1971-04-20
Home of Record
Castro Valley, Alameda County, CA
Character of Service
Honorable
Archive Status
Active
Timeline
Photos
Served alongside
Verbal accounts
Documents
Letters
Service record
External resources

Service timeline not yet compiled. If you served with or knew James Cardwell, please use the contribute form to share what you remember.

1970-10-30
Arrived in-country
CPL Cardwell began his tour with D Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division.
1971-04-20
Combat Action
Killed in action — contact north of FSB Fanning
CPL James Cardwell was killed during contact with an NVA base camp north of Route 1, east of Gia Rai Mountain. Range Platoon, crossing to the north bank, walked into a fortified bunker complex. CPL Cardwell, CPL Danny Drinkard, and CPL Joseph Hall were killed. SSgt Stan Dillon was severely wounded.
⚠ Source Notice — Multiple Accounts Exist
Sourced from written depositions of Capt. Bill Neal and SSgt Stan Dillon, supplemented by accounts from unit members.
1971-04-20
Confirmed present
Suối Gia Ui, Long Khanh Province, RVN

Did You Know James, or Serve Alongside James?

We are actively collecting photographs, letters, and memories for this profile. Submissions are reviewed before publication. If you served with James — or are a family member with materials — we'd be grateful to hear from you.