This page is a tribute to those fallen comrades
who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom's cause. It is to them that this page is
dedicated.
K Troop Honor Roll
62 Brave Men Gone But Not Forgotten
It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated to
the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is
rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us; that from these
honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full
measure of devotion; that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in
vain; that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom; and that government
of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth.
Abraham Lincoln
40W 067
Spec. 4 Bob Press was my crew chief on K Troop's medic track, "Seven
One" (71) but more than that, Bob was my friend. Bob was born in Skokie,
Illinois on December 7, 1945. He was not married. On Oct. 31, 1968, while in
Binh Duong Province, Republic of South Vietnam, Bob (along with other elements of K
Troop's HQ platoon) was tasked to rendezvous with members of the 3rd Platoon and return
them to our position.
I was in the rear area at the time and did not arrive in the field until
late afternoon. George (Doc) Jones, our other medic, greeted me when I arrived in
the field and told me what had happened. Bob climbed into the driver's seat. Dennis Morgan, an infantry trained machine gunner, was riding in
the commander's seat behind the 50 cal. machine gun. The two set out on the mission.
No sooner had they left the Night Defensive Position (NDP) when a soldier
of the Viet Cong triggered a command detonated mine destroying "Seven One" and killing Bob. Dennis survived his
injuries. 3rd Platoon's 31 Track with Ron Popowich, as commander, was nearby.
Read Ron's letter home to his mom in which he recounts
his crew's efforts to save Bob.
Bob's act of courage was typical of him. I personally witnessed his
many sacrifices for the men of K Troop. Unselfishly, he put the safety of the men
above his own.. He was truly one man never to be forgotten. God bless you, Bob
Press.
GERARD VINCENT PALMA
Commanding
K Troop/11th ACR Photo
CAPT - O3 - Army - Regular
27 year old Single, Caucasian, Male
Born on Sep 24, 1941
From HAMMONTON, NEW JERSEY
Length of service 4 years.
His tour of duty began on Aug 04, 1968
Casualty was on Apr 19, 1969
in BIEN HOA, SOUTH VIETNAM
Hostile, died of wounds
HELICOPTER - NONCREW
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was recovered
Religion
ROMAN CATHOLIC
Panel 26W - - Line 8
This off-site link at the 11th ACVVC provides the names of those men of
the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment who have died since returning from Vietnam. If you
know of a soldier who served in Vietnam and Cambodia with the 11th Armored Cavalry
Regiment and attached units and has died and is not on this roll call, please write to Allen Hathaway, Co-ordinator.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial was created to
commemorate and remember those who died in the conflict known as the "Vietnam
War". To search the Wall for Bob Press, Capt. Palma or any one of the over
58,000 fallen heroes who died, visit The Vietnam
Veterans Memorial Wall Page.
"OUR NATION HONORS
THE COURAGE, SACRIFICE AND DEVOTION TO DUTY AND COUNTRY OF ITS VIETNAM VETERANS. THIS
MEMORIAL WAS BUILT WITH PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
NOVEMBER 11, 1982"
While in Washington, DC stop by the most visited National Park Service
site in Washington - The Vietnam Veterans
Memorial.
Have you ever wondered how the hauntingly beautiful song Taps became the
funeral dirge for fallen soldiers. Learn the lyrics and read the astonishing history of Taps by MSG Jari A.
Villanueva. Another source of information about Taps is found on the unofficial Arlington National Cemetery web site.
For the official site or Arlington National Cemetery GO HERE.
