- PERSONAL DATA
Home of Record: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Date of birth: Sunday, 10/24/1943
MILITARY DATA
Service: Army (Reserve)
Grade at loss: O3
Rank: Captain
ID No: O2320412
MOS: 1542 Infantry Unit Commander
LenSvc: Between 8 and 9 years
Unit: B CO, 1ST BN, 11TH INF RGT, 5 INF DIV
CASUALTY DATA
Start Tour: Monday, 07/01/1968
Cas Date: Friday, 03/28/1969
Age at Loss: 25
Remains: Body Recovered
Location: Quang Tri, South Vietnam
Type: Hostile, Died Of Wounds
Reason: Multiple Fragmentation Wounds - Ground Casualty
ON THE WALL Panel 28W Line 075
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Captain (Infantry) Marvin James Roberts (ASN: 0-2320412), United States Army (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving as company commander of Company B, 1st Battalion, 11th Infantry, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized), on 27 March 1969.
Wounded while leading his men against the entrenched enemy positions, Captain Roberts still managed to call for and adjust artillery and tactical air strikes on the NVA positions. He then moved through the ranks shouting encouragement and giving directions to continue the attack. As his unit neared the crest of the hill, an enemy grenade bounded into the company command group. Immediately and without regard to his own safety, he hurled the grenade back into the aggressor's position, killing the occupant. At that point, hostile machine guns opened fire from a concealed position inflicting casualties upon the exposed forces. Realizing that the machine guns threatened the lives of most of his company, Captain Roberts drew his pistol and charged up a hill through a curtain of fire and hurled a grenade into the position, silencing the enemy weapons. At this point the captain was the only officer remaining in the command group. His assault carried him to the enemy position where he fired his pistol at point blank range and killed the remainder of the machine gun crew. Captain Roberts was again seriously wounded in the assault on the machine gun position. Inspired by his leadership, the men of his unit rushed the crest of the hill and overcame the remaining enemy resistance. Mortally wounded and unable to move, he continued to point out enemy positions to his company and refused to be evacuated until the objective was secured and all other casualties had been treated and evacuated. Captain Roberts 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.
General Orders: Department of the Army, General Orders No. 40 (July 22, 1970)
Action Date: March 27, 1969
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1943 - 1969 (25 ans)
