THE WALL OF FACES

Private First Class Robert William Gumbert Jr., Served with the 2nd Platoon, Company B, 4th Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 11th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division, United States Army Vietnam.

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrances from fellow soldier Dan Berard are moving and reflect his admiration and respect for you. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us….

POW-MIA...Never forget.

HOOAH

On the remembrance of your 71st birthday, your sacrifice is not forgotten.

HOOAH

PFC Robert W. Gumbert Jr. was an infantryman serving with 2nd Platoon, B Company, 4th Battalion, 21st Infantry, 11th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. On June 22, 1970, PFC Gumbert was participating in a company-sized search and clear mission two miles east of Duc Pho in Quang Ngai Province, RVN. Early in the morning, a fire team swept outside of their previous night’s defensive position. Second Platoon then moved out to join the rest of the Company with Gumbert up front as his squad assumed point position. Gumbert led 9-10 men through terrain consisting of ankle-high grass and hedgerows shoulder-high or higher. There were no signs of trails, beaten down grass, or other evidence of occupation. As Gumbert was cutting his way through a hedgerow, an enormous explosion occurred. When the smoke and dust cleared, Gumbert was gone. Two troopers nearest to him lay dead, the one directly behind him dismembered by the blast. Two others were wounded. An extensive search was organized for Gumbert, but no discernable remains were located. A crater 18-feet across and 4-feet deep occupied the place where he was last seen. His wallet and some letters belonging to him were all that was found. Nothing else was located. The hedgerow he was passing through was completely destroyed for 18 feet on either side of the crater and the grass and undergrowth was blown down for 100 feet all around. It was later determined the booby-trap was a 250lb. or larger bomb. A visual reconnaissance of the area revealed numerous old vehicle tracks not visible from the ground with two such tracks leading to the crater. The Commanding Officer of C Company believed the explosion was caused by and old anti-tank mine. Gumbert was listed as Dead, Body Not Recoverable. The two other lost troopers were SP4 Gary L. Peat and SP4 Joseph M. Turowski Jr. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]