Rank: Sergeant
Unit: L Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11B – Infantryman
Awards: Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star Medal, 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: 9-Sep-1945
Hometown: Woodmere, New York
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 9-Oct-1967
Start of tour: 3-Sep-1968
Incident date: 18-Feb-1969
Date of casualty: 18-Feb-1969
Age at death: 23
Cause of death: Hostile, died of wounds. Small Arms Fire. Gun or small arms fire.
Robert Irwin Meeker died from wounds received while commander of military vehicle on combat operation when engaged hostile force in firefight. He was admitted to a military medical facility where he expired shortly thereafter. / Track commander on Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) on reconnaissance in force when engaged hostile force in firefight. Individual admitted to 2d Surgical Hospital, Lai Khe, on 18 Feb 1969 at 1130 hrs and later expired. Incident occurred on 18 Feb 1969 at 1100 hrs.
Two Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
SP4 Virgil Carlyle Combs
SGT Robert Irwin Meeker
Location of fatality: Binh Duong, South Vietnam, XT 742 225
Place of interment: Long Island National Cemetery, East Farmingdale, New York, USA
View this soldier‘s Find a Grave page (opens in a new window)
SILVER STAR
WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER
POSTHUMOUS
SERGEANT ROBERT IRWIN MEEKER
18 FEBRUARY 1969
L TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Sergeant Robert Irwin Meeker distinguished himself by gallantry in actions while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 18 February 1969 while serving with Troop L, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date Sergeant Meeker was serving as section leader of a scout element which was conducting a routine reconnaissance mission. Suddenly the armored column was raked by automatic weapons and antitank grenade fire. In the initial burst of fire, Sergeant Meeker’s vehicle sustained a direct hit from a rocket propelled grenade round knocking him from the vehicle and severely wounding him. Although wounded and dazed, he remounted his vehicle and began directing accurate and deadly machine gun fire upon the hostile elements. While engaging the enemy forces from his vehicle he was again hit by enemy small arms fire. Nevertheless, he continued to man his position. Suddenly his vehicle received another direct hit from an enemy rocket propelled grenade round, wounding his entire crew and causing the vehicle to erupt into flames. Yet, he continued to shower the enemy positions with machine gun fire, pining the hostile elements down long enough to allow the evacuation of his wounded comrades. For a third time his vehicle was hit by a rocket propelled grenade round, again knocking him to the ground. In spite of his severe wounds, he refused medical attention until his wounded comrades had been attended to. Sergeant Meeker’s unparalleled courage, dedication to duty and concern for the lives of his comrades 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. 936 (10 April 10, 1969)
SILVER STAR
POSTHUMOUS
SERGEANT ROBERT IRWIN MEEKER
14 NOVEMBER 1968
L TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Sergeant Robert Irwin Meeker distinguished himself by gallantry in action in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 24 November 1968 while serving with Troop L, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date while he was participating in a dismounted reconnaissance patrol searching for an enemy base camp in an area of dense vegetation, his unit was suddenly attacked and pinned down by intense hostile small arms and automatic weapons fire. In the initial burst of fire, several of Sergeant Meeker’s comrades were seriously wounded. One of the more critically wounded troopers lay in a fully exposed position only 15 meters from an occupied enemy bunker. Though he knew that he would be subject to intense hostile fire, Sergeant Meeker advanced through the fusillade until he reached his wounded comrade, whereupon he administered first aid and move him to a secure position for evacuation. Sergeant Meeker’s dedication to duty, complete disregard for his personal safety and deep concern for the life of his comrade 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. 643 (16 March 1969)