THE WALL OF FACES

Bob was a forward observer who worked for me in the 6th Battalion, 11 Field Artillery (LZ Debbie). He was assigned to A Battery. He was a doer, always on top of any situation...well liked by seniors and subordinates, Bob was technically and tactically proficient...he knew his job and the seriousness of what he was responsible for. After more than 35 years, I still see his smile..."can do Boss". His death a real shock...I had talked to him just a few hours before he was killed in action. What an officer to give his life for his fellow soldiers..May God bless you Bob.

2nd LIEUTENANT

ROBERT CARROL WRIGHT


who served with


A BATTERY

6th BATTALION

11th ARTILLERY

11th INFANTRY BRIGADE


though at the time of his untimely

death he was serving with


BRAVO COMPANY

4th BATTALION

3rd INFANTRY REGIMENT


" THE OLD GUARD "


as an

Artillery Forward Observer


and was a posthumous recipient of the


DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS

PURPLE HEART

NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL

VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL

REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM CAMPAIGN SERVICE MEDAL





YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN

NOR SHALL YOU EVER BE



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



The President of the United States

takes pride in presenting the

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS

posthumously to

Robert Carrol Wright

Second Lieutenant, United States Army Reserve

for service as set forth in the following

For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Second Lieutenant Wright distinguished himself on 02 January 1970 while in command of an advance party of field artillerymen establishing a firebase on Hill 285 near the town of Duc Pho. Late that night the hill came under intense mortar, rocket-propelled grenade, and small arms fire from an attacking enemy force. Lieutenant Wright immediately began adjusting artillery fire on the attackers, repeatedly exposing himself to the storm of incoming fire as he attempted to determine the enemy's exact positions. Moments after the hostile force initiated their attack, an enemy mortar round impacted near Lieutenant Wright and his radio operator, inflicting them both with shrapnel wounds. Despite his wounds, Lieutenant Wright continued to coordinate friendly supporting fire until sappers breached the defensive position and were advancing toward his position. Unable to engage the infiltrators with his damaged rifle, Lieutenant Wright stood out in the open and yelled at the intruders in order to draw their attention and fire to himself and away from the wounded radioman who could not move. Lieutenant Wright then led the sappers in a running chase over forty meters away from the radioman before he was mortally felled by their fire. Second Lieutenant Wright's extraordinary heroism and devotion 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.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




11 DECEMBER 2001

2nd LIEUTENANT

ROBERT CARROL WRIGHT


who served with


A BATTERY

6th BATTALION

11th ARTILLERY

11th INFANTRY BRIGADE


though at the time of his untimely

death he was serving with


BRAVO COMPANY

4th BATTALION

3rd INFANTRY REGIMENT


" THE OLD GUARD "


as an

Artillery Forward Observer


and was a posthumous recipient of the


DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS

PURPLE HEART

NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL

VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL

REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM CAMPAIGN SERVICE MEDAL





YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN

NOR SHALL YOU EVER BE





11 DECEMBER 2001

If I should die, and leave you here awhile, be not like others, sore undone, who keep long vigils by the silent dust, and weep...for MY sake, turn again to life, and smile...Nerving thy heart, and trembling hand to do something to comfort other hearts than thine...Complete these dear, unfinished tasks of mine...and I, perchance, may therein comfort you.

Bob,
We became friends when I was just 14, and you were preparing for college. My memories are of you as my first date, but more importantly, as a very special friend.
I've read the tributes to you from so many on the internet, and they all recognize how special you were. People like you don't come along often. Whenever I visit Elk City, I make it a point to visit your gravesite to place flowers there. The memory of you will always be cherished by many.
June