VIETNAM - HAYNES, BOBBY GENE

Haynes, Bobby Gene

VIETNAM - HAYNES, BOBBY GENE
HAYNES, BOBBY GENE

Rank: Sergeant

Unit: C Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment

MOS: 11E – Armor Crewman

Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device and Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge

Unit awards: Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device

Enlisted by: Selected Service

Date of birth: 26-Feb-1948

Hometown: Flag Pond, Tennessee

Marital status: Never Married

Campaign: Vietnam Conflict

Entered service: 18-Jun-1968

Start of tour: 26-May-1969

Incident date: 6-Sep-1969

Date of casualty: 6-Sep-1969

Age at death: 21

Cause of death: Hostile, died. Grenade. Multiple fragmentation wounds.
Bobby Gene Haynes was killed while a crew member on a military vehicle on a combat operation when a hostile force was encountered. / Loader on tank on reconnaissance in force mission.  Engaged hostile force in firefight.

Three Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
SP4 Larry Daniel Boobar
SGT Bobby Gene Haynes
SSG Wayne Jackson Sanders

Location of fatality: Binh Long, South Vietnam, XU 745 001

Place of interment: Edwards Branch Cemetery, Flag Pond, Tennessee, USA

View this soldier‘s Find a Grave page (opens in a new window)

Vietnam Veterans Memorial panel and row: 18W 046 (view Vietnam Veterans Memorial link in a new window)

 

BRONZE STAR MEDAL

BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE AND OAK LEAF CLUSTER
POSTHUMOUS

SERGEANT BOBBY GENE HAYNES
6 SEPTEMBER 1969
C TROOP, 1st SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT

Sergeant Haynes distinguished himself by heroism in connection with ground operations against a hostile force on 6 September 1969 while serving as a loader with Troop C, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date Troop C was reinforcing another troop when it suddenly came under an intensive barrage of small arms, automatic weapons, and rocket-propelled grenade fire from an estimated battalion of North Vietnamese Army soldiers. Sergeant Haynes climbed on top of the turret and began directing the crew members to the enemy positions. While his Sheridan was leading the platoon, he spotted an enemy rocket team preparing to fire. Unhesitatingly, he

picked up his rifle and eliminated the grenade launcher team. For the remainder of the firefight, he fought aggressively until a rocket grenade slammed into his vehicle, killing him instantly. Sergeant Haynes’ actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam General Orders No. 3834 (6 November 1969)