VIETNAM - MINGLE, ROBERT LOUIS

Mingle, Robert Louis

VIETNAM - MINGLE, ROBERT LOUIS
MINGLE, ROBERT LOUIS

Rank: Sergeant

Unit: Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment

MOS: 45J – Aircraft Armament Repairman

Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Air Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Badges: Army Aircrew Badge

Unit awards: Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device

Note: UH-1C, Tail # 66-00525, CREW MEMBER

Enlisted by: Regular

Date of birth: 26-Nov-1946

Hometown: Massillon, Ohio

Marital status: Never Married

Campaign: Vietnam Conflict

Entered service: 19-Sep-1966

Start of tour: 11-Sep-1968

Incident date: 18-Jun-1969

Date of casualty: 18-Jun-1969

Age at death: 22

Cause of death: Hostile, died. Helicopter Crash — Crew (MC). Aircraft loss, crash not at sea.
Robert Louis Mingle was killed while door gunner on a military aircraft on a military mission when the aircraft was fired upon by a hostile force. / Door gunner of UH-1C aircraft on visual reconnaissance mission.  Aircraft received hostile ground fire and crashed and burned.

Three Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
SP4 Enrique Thomas Enrico
SGT Hollis Gregory Miller
SGT Robert Louis Mingle

Location of fatality: Binh Long, South Vietnam, XT 701 856

Place of interment: Rose Hill Memorial Park Cemetery, Massillon, Ohio, USA

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

Vietnam Veterans Memorial panel and row: 22W 080 (view Vietnam Veterans Memorial link in a new window)

 

DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS
POSTHUMOUS

SPECIALIST FOUR ROBERT LOUIS MINGLE
18 JUNE 1969
AIR CAVALRY TROOP
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT

Specialist Four Mingle distinguished himself by heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary actions above and beyond the call of duty on 18 June 1969 while serving as a helicopter door gunner with the Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date while Specialist Mingle was participating in an aerial reconnaissance operation, nine enemy soldiers were spotted moving below. As it circled the area, the aircraft came under intense hostile automatic weapons fire. Disregarding the enemy fusillade, Specialist Mingle leaned out the door of the helicopter and began placing accurate suppressive fire on the hostile positions. As the enemy resistance increased, the aircraft was suddenly hit by a burst of hostile automatic weapons fire and crashed, fatally injuring Specialist Mingle. Specialist Four Mingle’s outstanding courage and dedication to duty 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. 1777 (19 July 1969)