THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us....

SN Robert Lee Center is buried in the Murmuring Trees Section, Lot 4761, Space 3 of the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles, CA.

Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Semper Fortis

I was in the same Boot Camp Co. 279. He was from Inglewood Ca, I was from Downey, Ca. I later heard of his death while aboard ship. I later served in Riv Div 552. He will not be forgotten.

On July 11, 1967, four U.S. sailors aboard river patrol boat PBR-58 were killed when the Viet Cong detonated a Claymore mine at their boat near the northern tip of Dung Island in Phong Dinh Province, RVN. The incident occurred while six boats of River Section 511 were in column on the Bassac River, enroute to USS Garrett County (LST 786) at the river mouth station. The mine was detonated 20 feet up in a tree, showering the boat with shrapnel and causing extensive hull and equipment damage. Following the blast, the enemy opened up with small arms fire. The other boats detected six Viet Cong fleeing from the area and took them under fire with mortars, machine guns, and grenades, killing at least three. Two Navy Seawolf armed helicopters then struck the enemy site, damaging six Viet Cong sampans. The four lost crewmen from PBR-58 were SN Robert L. Center, GMG3 Oliver P. Damrow, ENFN Dean R. Nelsen, and BM1 William V. Potter. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, U.S. Naval Forces, Vietnam Monthly Historical Summary, July 1967, and “Reds Kill 2 Sailors In Attack on PBRs.” Pacific Stars & Stripes, July 14, 1967]

Dear SN Robert Center,
Thank you for your service as a Gunner's Mate (Guns) Seaman. Your 75th birthday just passed. Happy Birthday. It is so important for us all to acknowledge the sacrifices of those like you who answered our nation's call. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.