THE WALL OF FACES

Staff Sergeant Arthur John Rambo, Served with the Howitzer Battery, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, United States Army Vietnam.

On November 27, 1969, Thanksgiving Day, Troop L, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry, a tracked mechanized unit, set up a night laager on Route 246 near the Cambodia border in Tay Ninh Province, RVN. Unbeknownst to them, they had bivouacked only 100 meters from a major NVA infiltration trail hidden under the trees and paved with bamboo. In the early morning, a passing NVA rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) team attacked 3rd Squadron’s position. Two self-propelled howitzers had their gun tubes blown right off their tank chassis. Two aluminum-bodied Sheridan tanks were destroyed, reduced to melted hulks. Seven ammunition carriers and eleven supply trailers were also demolished. One of the RPG shaped charges had penetrated a tracked ammunition carrier and detonated the artillery shells inside. Four GI’s were killed in the attack and twenty-five seriously wounded. The lost troopers included SP4 Johnny C. Jones, SP4 Jon A. Allen, SP4 Barry F. Scott, and SSGT Arthur J. Rambo. SSGT Rambo was award the Silver Star when he attempted to remove from the area a burning cargo vehicle when it was hit by a second RPG, fatally injuring him. In February 1970, when their sister unit, 2nd Squadron, passed by the location, three months of vines had twirled themselves around the demolished wrecks. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and the book “Into Cambodia” by Keith W. Nolan]

Arthur John Rambo
Date of birth: December 16, 1944
Date of death: November 26, 1969
Burial location: Libby, Montana
Home of record: Libby Montana
Status: KIA

AWARDS AND CITATIONS

Silver Star

Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Sergeant Arthur John Rambo, United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 26 November 1969 while serving as an artilleryman with the Howitzer Battery, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date he was located at the squadron command post when it suddenly came under an intense mortar and ground attack from a North Vietnamese Army force. In the initial moments of the firefight, a rocket propelled grenade slammed into a cargo vehicle next to him, and the vehicle erupted n explosions and fire. Sergeant Rambo immediately began alerting the personnel in the area and directing them away from the area. He then crawled to the fiercely burning vehicle and attempted to drive it out of the area. Suddenly another grenade hit the vehicle and he was thrown to the ground. Undaunted, he crawled to a self-propelled howitzer and started the engine. As he began driving out of the area, the vehicle was hit by yet another rocket propelled grenade and he was fatally injured in the ensuing fire and explosions. Sergeant Rambo's heroic actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam, General Orders No. 4896 (December 23, 1969)

Action Date: November 26, 1969

Service: Army

Rank: Sergeant

Company: Howitzer Battery, 3d Squadron

Regiment: 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment

Rest in peace Artie, you are a hero in this VN veterans eyes.
Vietnam 67-68 2/22 Dau Tieng.

Dear SSGT Arthur John Rambo, 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