By HENRY CUNINGHAM
The Fayetteville Observer
Published: May 19, 2012
Col. Gordon R. Roberts, who received the Medal of Honor as a sergeant during the Vietnam War, retired from the Army on Friday at Fort Bragg.
Roberts was the most senior soldier on active duty wearing the nation's highest military honor, said Maj. Gen. Kenneth S. Dowd, commander of Fort Bragg's 1st Theater Sustainment Command. Not a one-time hero, Roberts also has two Silver Stars, the third-highest award for valor.
"It has been a great honor and privilege that Col. Roberts has stood in our ranks," Dowd said. Roberts is "a humble man" who "sees himself no differently than any other soldier."
The rarely seen Medal of Honor flag with 13 white stars on a blue field was at the outdoor ceremony at 1st Theater Sustainment Command headquarters.
Roberts looks boyish in a photograph of the ceremony at which President Nixon placed the blue Medal of Honor ribbon around his neck. At 61, Roberts wears glasses, and gray hair contrasts with his black beret.
In his remarks, Roberts did not talk about assaulting and destroying three enemy bunkers pinning down his 101st Airborne Division infantry company. He did not mention being under fire from North Vietnamese soldiers and pulling wounded comrades off the battlefield.
He did talk about the joy he received from soldiering and being around soldiers more than 44 years and his love of his family.
read more here
No comments:
Post a Comment
If it is not helpful, do not be hurtful. Spam removed so do not try putting up free ad.