War Stories with Preston and Sayre
Society & Culture
SGT Gordon Roberts (B/1-506IN, 101st Airborne) Vietnam War, 11JUL1969
11JUL1969: SGT Gordon Roberts was a rifleman when his platoon was called upon to help relieve one of their sister companies that was pinned down nearby. As his platoon approached the enemy controlled hillside, they too were attacked by those same positions and were quickly immobilized by the volume of enemy machine gun fire.
Seeing his men pinned down and recognizing that unless they reduced the threat, his sister company could be wiped out, SGT Roberts picked up and charged towards the first closest enemy bunker. Firing as he ran, he overcame the position and killed the two defenders.
As he was alerting his men that the position was cleared, a second machine gun opened up with a round striking and destroying his rifle. Without hesitation, Roberts picked up an enemy AK-14 and continued his assault towards the second bunker. With rounds impacting all over, Roberts destroyed his second bunker of the day.
From there he pushed further into the deadly enemy fire to destroy a third emplacement with grenades before linking up with the adjoining company they were tasked with assisting. As enemy fire continued to rain down all around, Roberts stayed with this unit to help evacuate casualties before making his way back to his platoon.
For taking out the fortified enemy positions that were about to wipe out his platoon and a sister company, SGT Gordon Roberts would be awarded the Medal of Honor. Roberts would survive the war and would exit the service after three years in 1971. He would earn a direct commission in 1991, return to service and retired from active duty in 2012.
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