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
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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)