THE WALL OF FACES

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotions and spends himself in a great worthy cause; who at the best, knows in the end triumph of high achievement and, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while caring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold, timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat. Theodore Roosevelt

Dear SSgt Robert Vennik, Thank you for your service as an Infantryman with the 1st Cavalry. Glad you were identified on 2001. Welcome Home. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart . Autumn has begun. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it still needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Staff Sergeant Robert Nicholas Vennik was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Valor, with Combat Distinguishing Device (V), for his exemplary gallantry in action. He served as an Infantryman and was assigned to B TRP, 1ST SQDN, 1ST CAVALRY, 196TH INFANTRY BDE, AMERICAL DIV.
See https://army.togetherweserved.com/

SP4 David A. Brancheau, SP4 George A. Chapman, SGT John P. Hoffman, SP4 Curtis C. Kastler, SP4 Rodolfo Valdez, and SSGT Robert N. Vennik were members of B Troop, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry, 196th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. On August 26, 1971, they were riding atop of an armored personnel carrier (APC #B-24), moving to a night defensive position near the village of Cu An, 23 miles southwest of Hoa An in Quang Nam Province, RVN. Their unit was ambushed, and after moving into a position to provide fire support for other carriers, their track was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. A violent explosion erupted from the fragmentation and white phosphorous grenades, Claymore mines, and the gas tanks of the APC. Of the six men who were riding on top of the vehicle, five remains were found and identified, but the remains of Vennik were never found after searching the area for two days. Witnesses believed that Vennik's body had been destroyed and was unrecoverable as a result of the explosion and ensuing 11 hour fire in the APC. However, subsequent visits to the scene resulted in remains believed to be Vennik’s being repatriated on June 27, 2000. They were positively identified on February 2, 2001. He was interred at Arlington National Cemetery. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and pownetwork.org]

Bobby and I were friends during 1955. I stayed with my Uncle who lived across the street from the Venniks. Although we were only together a short time tat year I never forgot him, and some thirty years later I returned to that street in Wykoff, NJ, and went to his house.

It was then I learned from his parents that Bobby had been killed in Viet Nam. It saddens me to this day. I'm sure he made a lasting impression on those he served with, because he left a lasting impression on me during the brief time we were together when we were 8 - 9 years old. I know he was greatly missed by his parents when we met some 20 years after his death.

Your physical presence may no longer be with us Bobby, but your spirit lives on.

Your friend,

Les Center