Gordon Ray Roberts

CHARGED FOUR ENEMY BUNKERS TO FREE HIS PINNED-DOWN COMRADES.

On July 11, 1969, during fighting for Hill 996 in Vietnam’s A Shau Valley, 19-year-old Specialist Fourth Class Gordon Ray Roberts saw his platoon pinned by fire from fortified North Vietnamese positions. He crawled toward the nearest bunker, then charged it under fire and silenced its two defenders. He pressed on to a second position. When gunfire knocked his rifle from his hands, he seized a comrade’s weapon and continued the assault. He destroyed a third bunker with grenades and attacked a fourth before reaching an adjoining company. Still under fire, he helped carry wounded soldiers from exposed ground to an evacuation point. Sixteen Americans, including his battalion commander, died in the battle. Roberts received the Medal of Honor for the actions that helped save fellow soldiers and renewed the attack.

Born in Middletown, Ohio, in 1950, Roberts grew up in Lebanon. Three days after graduating high school, he enlisted in the Army in 1968 and volunteered for Vietnam. He served in Company B, 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, the same division in which his father had served during the Second World War. President Richard Nixon presented the Medal of Honor at the White House on March 2, 1971.

Roberts left active service after his first enlistment, earned a sociology degree at the University of Dayton, and worked for nearly two decades as a social worker. He later returned to military service through the Ohio Army National Guard, received a direct commission, and reentered active duty in 1991. Over the next two decades he served as an Army officer, including assignments in medical and sustainment commands, and deployed to Iraq. He retired as a colonel in May 2012 after a career spanning 44 years, including time outside active duty. His later social-work career focused on helping people and families facing probation, substance-use, domestic-violence, and mental-health challenges.

MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sergeant Roberts distinguished himself while serving as a rifleman in Company B, during combat operations. Sergeant Roberts’ platoon was maneuvering along a ridge to attack heavily fortified enemy bunker positions which had pinned down an adjoining friendly company. As the platoon approached the enemy positions, it was suddenly pinned down by heavy automatic weapons and grenade fire from camouflaged enemy fortifications atop the overlooking hill. Seeing his platoon immobilized and in danger of failing in its mission, Sergeant Roberts crawled rapidly toward the closest enemy bunker. With complete disregard for his safety, he leaped to his feet and charged the bunker, firing as he ran. Despite the intense enemy fire directed at him, Sergeant Roberts silenced the two-man bunker. Without hesitation, Sergeant Roberts continued his one-man assault on a second bunker. As he neared the second bunker, a burst of enemy fire knocked his rifle from his hands. Sergeant Roberts picked up a rifle dropped by a comrade and continued his assault, silencing the bunker. He continued his charge against a third bunker and destroyed it with well-thrown hand grenades. Although Sergeant Roberts was now cut off from his platoon, he continued his assault against a fourth enemy emplacement. He fought through a heavy hail of fire to join elements of the adjoining company which had been pinned down by the enemy fire. Although continually exposed to hostile fire, he assisted in moving wounded personnel from exposed positions on the hilltop to an evacuation area before returning to his unit. By his gallant and selfless actions, Sergeant Roberts contributed directly to saving the lives of his comrades and served as an inspiration to his fellow soldiers in the defeat of the enemy force. Sergeant Roberts’ extraordinary heroism in action at the risk of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

SOURCES

1. U.S. Army, “Medal of Honor, Vietnam (M–Z Index),” entry for Gordon R. Roberts; official citation and service details. 2. Congressional Medal of Honor Society, “Medal of Honor Recipient Col. Gordon Roberts: ‘Patriotism Is Far from Dead,’” interview and account of Hill 996. 3. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Medal of Honor, Social Work and Service,” service chronology, Army career, and social-work career.