Gordon Ray Roberts

Gordon Ray Roberts (born June 14, 1950) is a former United States Army officer and a Medal of Honor recipient for his "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty" on July 11, 1969 while an infantryman with the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division during the Vietnam War.

Biography
Gordon Roberts was born in Middletown, Ohio on June 14, 1950. His hometown is Lebanon, Ohio.

Vietnam service
Three days after Roberts graduated from high school, he enlisted in the United States Army in May 1968. He went through training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and then attended infantry school. Roberts was placed in Company B, 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, and deployed to the Republic of Vietnam in April 1969.

By July 11, 1969, Roberts had already distinguished himself, being awarded both the Silver Star and the Bronze Star. On that day, Roberts single-handedly wiped out three machine gun nests, saving the lives of over 20 fellow soldiers. Roberts spent 14 months in Vietnam until he returned to the United States in June 1970.

On March 2, 1971, he was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Richard M. Nixon for his actions on July 11, 1969. Roberts was the youngest living Medal of Honor recipient and the only one still on active duty until 2010, when Army Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta was awarded the medal.

Post-Vietnam life
Following his first enlistment in the Army, Roberts attended the University of Dayton and received a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1974. He married and became the father of a son and a daughter. After eighteen years as a social worker, he returned to the Army and received a direct commission as an officer. He then came on active duty in 1991. His past assignments include eight years of company and field grade command assignments in Korea, Fort Bragg, Haiti, Fort Gordon and Iraq as well as staff assignments at Hunter Army Airfield, Fort Benning, and Kuwait. From June 2008 through June 2010 he served as the Brigade Commander for Walter Reed Army Medical Center. On July 1, 2010, he began duty as command surgeon for the 1st Sustainment Command (Theater) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He later assumed duties as the unit's forward Chief of Staff at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.

Roberts retired from the Army on May 18, 2012.

Awards and decorations
In addition to the Medal of Honor, Gordon Roberts's military awards include the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and the Presidential Unit Citation.


 * Medal of Honor ribbon.svg Medal of Honor


 * SilverStar.gif Silver Star


 * Bronze Star ribbon.svg Bronze Star


 * Air Medal ribbon.svg Air Medal


 * Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg Army Commendation Medal


 * Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg Presidential Unit Citation


 * National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg National Defense Service Medal


 * Vietnam Service Ribbon.svg Vietnam Service Medal


 * Vietnam Campaign Medal Ribbon.png Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Badges:


 * Combat Infantry Badge.svg Combat Infantryman Badge


 * US Army Airborne basic parachutist badge.gif Parachutist Badge

Medal of Honor citation

 * Cmoh army.jpg