Taps - K Troop - 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment

K Troop 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment

The Blackhorse In Vietnam 1966 - 1972

hosted by Bob Hersey

All Gave Some - Some Gave All g

No Greater Love!

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

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.

Robert M. Press, Jr.
KIA Oct. 31, 1968

Compliments of Eric Price June 2010

Another K Troop Hero

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

Three Reasons To Remember
Garrett - McLean - Carr

Three brave men gave all they had.
Special Tribute

The K Troop Bandana
Why we were proud to wear it.
See For Yourself
Includes After Action Report
May 21, 1967 Ambush

My Buddy
David L. Mansir
1946 - 2005

Our Absent Comrades Since Returning From Vietnam

Go HERE

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.

Lest We Forget - They Served Too

Vietnam Women's Memorial

The Cost Of War
Summary Of Vietnam Casualty Statistics

Download

Adobe Acrobat File Size 101kb

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.