Rank: Staff Sergeant
Unit: A Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist
Awards: Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Army Good Conduct 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: Regular
Date of birth: 15-Jul-1947
Hometown: Sylacauga, Alabama
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 16-Jul-1964
Start of tour: 13-Dec-1968
Incident date: 24-May-1969
Date of casualty: 24-May-1969
Age at death: 21
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Grenade. Multiple fragmentation wounds.
Roger Lee Oliver was killed while commander of a military vehicle on a combat operation when a hostile force was encountered. / Track commander on Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) on reconnaissance in force mission. Engaged hostile force in firefight.
Location of fatality: Long Khanh, South Vietnam, YT 324 038
Place of interment: Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, Sylacauga, Alabama, USA
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SILVER STAR
POSTHUMOUS
STAFF SERGEANT ROGER LEE OLIVER
24 APRIL 1969
A TROOP, 1st SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Staff Sergeant Oliver distinguished himself by gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 24 May 1969 while serving as commander of an armored cavalry assault vehicle with Troop A, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date while the troop was engaged with a well concealed, well entrenched enemy force, one of the friendly vehicles came under heavy enemy machine gun fire. Seeing that the vehicle was unable to maneuver to eliminate the threat, Sergeant Oliver began placing devastating suppressive fire in the hostile emplacement and pinned the enemy down long enough for the endangered vehicle to assault and destroys the hostile position. As the fire fight continued, he spotted an enemy rocket propelled grenade team that was placing fire on several of the friendly vehicles. Disregarding his own safety, Sergeant Oliver, manning his heavy machine gun, began an assault on the hostile position. As he placed devastating fire on the enemy team, it was forced to concentrate its fire on his vehicle. Before he could silence the hostile emplacement, he was mortally wounded when his vehicle received a direct hit. Nevertheless, his gallant sacrifice had given the other vehicles time to take the hostile position under fire and destroy it before they sustained any casualties. Staff Sergeant Oliver’s outstanding courage, unwavering devotion to duty and deep concern for the welfare 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. 1468 (13 June 1969)