| Gordon Ray Roberts | |
|---|---|
| COL Gordon R. Roberts |
|
| Nickname | "Bird Dog"[1] |
| Born | June 14, 1950 Middletown, Ohio |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1968–1971, 1991–present |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | 1st Sustainment Command (Theater), Fort Bragg, North Carolina[2] |
| Commands held | Brigade Commander Walter Reed Army Medical Center[2] Officer in charge of force protection, 1st COSCOM, Camp Anaconda, Balad, Iraq |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam Iraq |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Silver Star Bronze Star |
| Other work | Social worker |
Gordon Ray Roberts (born June 14, 1950), a United States Army officer, is a Medal of Honor recipient for his "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty" on July 11, 1969 while an infantryman with the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division during the Vietnam War.
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Gordon Roberts was born in Middletown, Ohio in 1950. His hometown is Lebanon, Ohio.
Roberts enlisted in the U.S. Army three days after graduating from high school, at age 17. Following basic training, he attended the Infantry school, and was then assigned to the 101st Airborne Division and sent to Vietnam.
By July 11, 1969, he had already distinguished himself, being awarded both the Silver Star and the Bronze Star.[1] On that day, Roberts single-handedly wiped out three machine gun nests, saving the lives of many fellow soldiers.[1][3]
On March 2, 1971, he was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Richard M. Nixon for his actions on July 11, 1969.[4] Roberts was the youngest living Medal of Honor recipient and the only one still on active duty until 2010, when Army Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta was awarded the medal.[3][4]
Following his first enlistment in the Army, Roberts attended the University of Dayton and received a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1974.[3] He married and became the father of a son and a daughter. After eighteen years as a social worker, he returned to the Army and received a direct commission as an officer. He then came on active duty in 1991. His past assignments include eight years of company and field grade command assignments in Korea, Fort Bragg, Haiti, Fort Gordon and Iraq as well as staff assignments at Hunter Army Airfield, Fort Benning, and Kuwait. From June 2008 through June 2010 he served as the Brigade Commander for Walter Reed Army Medical Center.[2] On July 1, 2010, he began duty as command surgeon for the 1st Sustainment Command (Theater) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.[5][6] He later assumed duties as the unit's forward Chief of Staff at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.
In addition to the Medal of Honor, Gordon Roberts military awards include the Silver Star, the Bronze Star , the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and the Presidential Unit Citation.
Badges:
Rank and organization: Sergeant (then Sp4), U.S. Army, Company B, 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. Place and date: Thua Thien Province, Republic of Vietnam, July 11, 1969. Entered service at: Cincinnati, Ohio. Born: June 14, 1950, Middletown, Ohio.
Citation:
- For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Roberts distinguished himself while serving as a rifleman in Company B, during combat operations. Sgt. 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, Sgt. 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, Sgt. Roberts silenced the 2-man bunker. Without hesitation, Sgt. Roberts continued his 1-man assault on a second bunker. As he neared the second bunker, a burst of enemy fire knocked his rifle from his hands. Sgt. 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 Sgt. 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, Sgt. 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. Sgt. 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.