Robert Earl Roberts
Corporal, U.S. Army

In June 1951, then-Private First Class Robert Earl Roberts was serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, in Korea.

On 24 June, PFC Roberts' unit was engaged with enemy forces in the vicinity of Sobangsan, North Korea. Company B, while holding positions on Hill 717, was attacked by a numerically superior hostile force that was determined to drive the friendly troops from the ridge. During the fierce firefight that ensued, PFC Roberts noticed that the supply of ammunition for a vital machine-gun position was running dangerously low. He left his position and, moving across the fire-swept terrain, made his way to a supply point. While returning with the ammunition, PFC Roberts was wounded but he continued up the hill to the machine-gun emplacement. Despite the supply of ammunition and the determination of the friendly forces to hold their positions, the numerical superiority of the enemy soon made withdrawal necessary. As the company fell back, PFC Roberts, refusing medical aid, voluntarily remained behind and used the machine-gun to cover the withdrawal of his comrades. When last seen, he was firing at the many hostile troops that were about to overwhelm his position. PFC Roberts' extraordinary heroism and self-sacrifice earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Roberts received a posthumous promotion to the rank of Corporal.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Robert Earl Roberts (US55013828), Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. Private First Class Roberts distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Sobangsan, Korea, on 24 June 1951. On that date, Company B, holding positions on Hill 717, was attacked by a numerically superior hostile force which was fanatically determined to drive the friendly troops from the ridge. During the fierce firefight which ensued, Private Roberts observed that the supply of ammunition for a vital machine-gun position was running dangerously low. He left his position of comparative safety and, moving across the fire-swept terrain, made his way to a supply point. While returning with the desperately needed ammunition, Private Roberts was wounded but, undaunted, he continued up the hill to the machine-gun emplacement. Despite the fresh supply of ammunition and the determination of the friendly forces to hold their positions, the numerical superiority of the enemy soon made withdrawal necessary. As the company fell back, Private Roberts, refusing medical aid, voluntarily remained behind, operating the machine-gun to cover the withdrawal of his comrades. When last seen he was firing with devastating precision at the numerous hostile troops, who were on the point of overwhelming his position.

Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 743 (October 5, 1951)

Memorialization

The remains of Corporal Robert Earl Roberts have never been recovered. He was presumed dead on 31 December 1953 with the date of death 24 June 1951. He is memorialized by having his name inscribed on Court 6 of the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial in Honolulu, HI.

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