STEVEN M KUSTER
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HONORED ON PANEL 14W, LINE 114 OF THE WALL

STEVEN MARK KUSTER

WALL NAME

STEVEN M KUSTER

PANEL / LINE

14W/114

DATE OF BIRTH

04/01/1948

CASUALTY PROVINCE

KONTUM

DATE OF CASUALTY

02/07/1970

HOME OF RECORD

RAPID CITY

COUNTY OF RECORD

Pennington County

STATE

SD

BRANCH OF SERVICE

ARMY

RANK

SSGT

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Contact Details

REMEMBRANCES

LEFT FOR STEVEN MARK KUSTER
POSTED ON 4.14.2023
POSTED BY: John Fabris

We Will Remember

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
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POSTED ON 2.8.2021
POSTED BY: A Grateful Vietnam Veteran

Bronze Star Medal Award for Valor

Staff Sergeant Steven Mark Kuster was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Valor, with Combat Distinguishing Device (V), for his exemplary gallantry in action. He was also awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Merit for his sustained meritorious service. He served as Infantryman (Airborne Qualified) and was assigned to CCC, MACV-SOG, 5TH SF GROUP.
See https://army.togetherweserved.com/
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POSTED ON 2.24.2020
POSTED BY: Lucy Micik

Thank You

Dear SSgt Steven Kuster, Thank you for your service as an Airborne Qualified Infantryman. Your 50th anniversary just passed, sad. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. The time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.
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POSTED ON 8.19.2015

Final Mission of SSGT Steven M. Kuster

On February 7, 1970, SSGT Steven M. Kuster was killed when the jeep he was traveling in was destroyed by a land mine. There is a personal account for this incident: “Kuster was one of my squad leaders (I was a platoon sergeant in Co A). Kuster had taken his squad up to Ben Het (I think, might've been Dak Pek), I forget exactly why, maybe just for additional security or to secure the landing strip during a lull in the frequent sieges up there. This was a special assignment, usually we never detached a squad to do anything, much less support someone else's camp. But those were the orders. I couldn't remember when this happened, real late in my tour. I came back in February '70, and his date of death was Feb ‘70 also. So, it must've been within a week or so of my return. We used to joke about Kuster's name (although not in front of him, he was just a young NCO, buck sergeant I believe, and pretty new to SF and all this). You know, "Kuster" and Custer, Little Big Horn, etc. But Special Forces humor, usually pretty dark. We never dreamed…Kuster had his entire squad piled onto an M-151 jeep, going to take them down to the river below the camp for a quick bath. The jeep ran over a buried mine, either a 122mm rocket or 155mm howitzer round, I forget which now, I'm told it was command-detonated. It blew the jeep to crap, and everyone on it. The SF team heard the explosion, sent people to investigate, found the platoon interpreter hobbling up the dirt road for help, hurt leg, but otherwise unharmed. They went down the road, found the jeep upside down, blown to hell, bodies scattered all around in the middle of a grass fire. They put out the fire, recovered the bodies.” (By David Kirschbaum, SGM, USA SF (Ret), Plt Sgt, Co A, Hatchet Force CCC) [Taken from macvsog.cc]
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POSTED ON 11.16.2013
POSTED BY: Curt Carter [email protected]

Remembering An American Hero

Dear SSGT Steven Mark Kuster, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter
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