ROBERT MICHAEL SNELL
ROBERT M SNELL
22W/49
REMEMBRANCES
Distinguished Service Cross Citation
Distinguished Service Cross
Awarded posthumously for actions during the Vietnam War
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Captain (Field Artillery) Robert Michael Snell, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2d Battalion, 320th Artillery, 101st Airborne Division. Captain Snell distinguished himself on 14 June 1969 while serving as an artillery liaison officer to the 327th Infantry. In the early morning hours, an intense mortar attack followed by a ground assault was launched against Fire Support Base Berchtesgaden. When the first enemy rounds hit, several personnel were injured and in need of immediate medical attention. Captain Snell, with complete disregard for his own safety, moved fifty meters from his protected bunker through the heavy volume of enemy mortar fire to assist the wounded. He carried one wounded soldier back to the safety of the bunker and was going out the bunker door to retrieve another man when a round impacted at his feet and mortally wounded him. Captain Snell's unselfish dedication to his fellow soldiers was directly responsible for saving the life of the man he had carried to safety. Captain Snell's extraordinary heroism and dedication to duty, at the cost of his life, 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, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 166 (January 19, 1970)
Action Date: June 14, 1969
Service: Army
Rank: Captain
Company: Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
Battalion: 2d Battalion
Regiment: 320th Artillery
Division: 101st Airborne Division
If I should die...remembrances for CAPT. Robert Michael SNELL, USA...who made the ultimate sacrifice
We Remember
DFC BSM/V with 2 OLC PH ARCOM
USMA CLASS OF 66
IN REMEMBRANCE OF THIS MOST HEROIC UNITED STATES ARMY OFFICER, A POSTHUMOUS RECIPIENT OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS, WHOSE NAME SHALL LIVE FOREVER MORE
CAPTAIN
ROBERT MICHAEL SNELL
WAS A DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE OF THE
UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY
AT WEST POINT, NEW YORK
IN THE CLASS OF 1966
WHO WAS SERVING WITH THE
HEADQUARTERS & HEADQUARTERS BATTERY
2nd BATTALION
320th ARTILLERY REGIMENT
101st AIRBORNE DIVISION
" THE SCREAMING EAGLES "
when he met his untimely death
at the young age of just 25
becoming a posthumous recipient of the
following military decorations
and service medals
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS
THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL with ' V ' for VALOR device
and Oak Leaf Cluster
ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL
PURPLE HEART
NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL
VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL
REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM CAMPAIGN SERVICE MEDAL
~~~ DUTY ~~~ HONOR ~~~ COUNTRY ~~~
~~~ THE LONG GRAY LINE ~~~
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DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
Headquarters
United States Army Vietnam
APO San Francisco 96375
19 January 1970
GENERAL ORDERS NUMBER 166
AWARD OF THE
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS
1. TC 320. The following AWARD is announced posthumously.
SNELL, ROBERT MICHAEL 464-72-5019
CAPTAIN FIELD ARTILLERY
HQ and HQ Battery
2nd Battalion
320th Artillery Regiment
101st Airborne Division
Awarded: Distinguished Service Cross
Date action: 14 June 1969
Theater: Republic of Vietnam
Authority: By direction of the President, under the provisions of the Act of Congress, approved 25 July 1963.
Reason: For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Captain Snell distinguished himself on 14 June 1969 while serving as an artillery liaison officer to the 327th Infantry Regiment. In the early morning hours, an intense mortar attack followed by a ground assault was launched against Fire Support Base Berchtesgaden. When the first enemy rounds hit, several personnel were injured and in need of immediate medical attention. Captain Snell, with complete disregard for his own safety, moved fifty meters from his protected bunker through the heavy volume of enemy mortar fire to assist the wounded. He carried one wounded soldier back to the safety of the bunker and was going out the bunker door to retrieve another man when a round impacted at his feet and mortally wounded him. Captain Snell's unselfish dedication to his fellow soldiers was directly responsible for saving the life of the man he had carried to safety. Captain Snell's extraordinary heroism and dedication to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
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YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN
NOR SHALL YOU EVER BE
26500 - 26 JANUARY 1999