VIETNAM - JAMES, BOBBY

James, Bobby

VIETNAM - JAMES, BOBBY
JAMES, BOBBY

Rank: Sergeant

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

MOS: 11B – Infantryman

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

Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge

Unit awards: Presidential Unit Citation, Valorous Unit Award, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device

Enlisted by: Regular

Date of birth: 25-Feb-1947

Hometown: Bowersville, Georgia

Marital status: Never Married

Campaign: Vietnam Conflict

Entered service: 19-Jan-1966

Start of tour: 2-Oct-1967

Incident date: 13-May-1968

Date of casualty: 13-May-1968

Age at death: 21

Cause of death: Hostile, died. Small Arms Fire. Gun or small arms fire.
Bobby James died from wound received while on combat operation when engaged hostile force in firefight.

Five Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
SSG Ollis Brewster
SGT Ralph Raymond Collins Jr
SGT Douglas George Factora
SGT Bobby James
CPL Frederick F. Walters

Location of fatality: Hua Nghia, South Vietnam

Place of interment: Nancy Hart Memorial Park, Hartwell, Georgia, USA

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

Vietnam Veterans Memorial panel and row: 59E 024 (view Vietnam Veterans Memorial link in a new window)

 

BRONZE STAR MEDAL

BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS

SPECIALIST FOUR BOBBY JAMES
13 MAY 1968
C TROOP, 1st SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT

Specialist James distinguished himself by valorous actions on 13 May 1968, while serving with an armored cavalry regiment on a combat mission near Cu Chi, Vietnam.  Enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire hit and disabled his .50 caliber machine gun.  Disregarding the loss of this vital weapon, Sergeant James continued to press the attack, assuming a completely exposed position in order to engage the enemy with the M-16 rifle.  In the process, he was suddenly struck and mortally wounded by enemy small arms fire.  Sergeant James’ personal bravery and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Headquarters, 9th Infantry Division General Orders No. 4931 (22 June 1968)