THE WALL OF FACES

Dear Sp4 Robert Rogers, Thank you for your service as a Field Illumination Crewman. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It is Agent Orange Awareness month. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance, and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

My name is Thomas Madrigal I live in blue Island Illinois I arrive in Vietnam in early January 1970I was assigned the first Platoon With the second field force and I’m Back Lieu Province in Vietnam that’s where I first met Bob I believe that Bob and some of the guys in Bac Lieu compound had a pet monkey in the hooch And gave their pet monkey some beer and a small bowl after a while the monkey had a hard time hanging in the onto the rafters up on the hooch one and only Humorous events there with the second Field force in Bac Lieu I was with Bob and Roger Martinez on the jeep that night that Bob lost his life When the jeep flipped over into Canal I was knocked out temporally inconscience We lost our weapons and a canal and lost my glasses too in the canal when I was able to gain full conscience again I was in by 2 feet of mud on the side of canal it’s still pitch dark I heard a grown I went were I heard to grouns it was Martinez I dragged him out of the canal to the side of the road and. Went back to the canal and try to search for The jeep was in probably four or 5 feet of muddy canal water The mud in the canal was kind of like quicksand you couldn’t hardly move your feet all this time I was calling out for Bob I heard nothing so I figure we are less than 2 miles in the bac lieu compound I told Martinez to stay still on the side of the bank and Canal I told him I said run back to the compound and get help our two later day break sit in and they found Bob’s body under the jeep for years Ive have Thought in my mind for what could I have done to save Bob’s life and Canel that night on January 25, 1970

Rest in peace fellow search light crewman
Tom-I/29 Arty

Dear SP4 Robert Gene Rogers, 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, Sir

Curt Carter

Although he was born in Louisiana, Bobby Rogers lived most of his life in Paradise.

His mother remembered how her son loved nature and used to hike in the surrounding hills. He also pitched a mean ball for the Paradise Little League. Rogers dropped out of Paradise High School in late 1966 at age 17 to join the Army.

He trained in Germany, and in July 1968, with a year left on his first enlistment, was shipped to Vietnam.

Rogers surreptitiously re-enlisted, and volunteered for another tour in Vietnam.

On Jan. 25, 1970 near the Cambodian border, he was driving a jeep with a huge searchlight mounted on the back. Suddenly a pack of dogs ran into the road. Rogers swerved to avoid them. His jeep overturned and rolled into a canal.

The Paradise soldier was trapped under the vehicle and drowned.

Rogers’ mother said her son empathized with the Vietnamese. “He felt the women and children were being hurt the most.”

Chico News & Review, May 26, 1988

Rest in peace with the warriors.