On 20 December 1967, Sergeant Major Herbert Roberts, Jr. was serving with Headquarters & Headquarters Company 3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division in Kon Tum Province, South Vietnam.

On that day, SGM Roberts was accompanying the Battalion Commander, LTC Glen Dean Belnap, in a helicopter as he commanded the movements of his troops. The tail rotor of the UH-1H Huey helicopter struck a tree and crashed. SGM Roberts was killed along with LTC Belnap; WO Jeremiah D. McGarry, copilot; and PFC David Antol, the crew chief.

Honors

The name Herbert Roberts Jr is located on Panel 32E Line 33 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.