Rank: Specialist 4
Unit: Headquarters & Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 91B – Medical Specialist
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device and Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Unit awards: Presidential Unit Citation, Valorous Unit Award, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Note: Medic attached to K Troop, 3/11 ACR
Enlisted by: Selected Service
Date of birth: 7-Dec-1945
Hometown: Skokie, Illinois
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 13-Jul-1967
Start of tour: 17-Dec-1967
Incident date: 31-Oct-1968
Date of casualty: 31-Oct-1968
Age at death: 22
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Explosive Device. Other explosive device.
Robert Montgomery Press Jr died from injury and burns received while driver of military vehicle on combat operation when vehicle hit a hostile mine. / (Individual transported to 24th Evacuation Hospital, Long Binh.)
Location of fatality: Binh Duong, South Vietnam, XT 840 315*
Place of interment: Rosehill Cemetery and Mausoleum, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER
POSTHUMOUS
SPECIALIST FOUR ROBERT MONTGOMERY PRESS
28 OCTOBEER 1968
HEADQUARTERS AND HEADQUARTERS TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Specialist Four Press distinguished himself by heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force on 28 October 1968 while serving as a medical aidman attached to Troop K, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date Troop K was executing a cordoning operation around the village of Chanh Luu, when suddenly one of the troop’s armored cavalry assault vehicles detonated an antitank mine, overturning the vehicle. The explosion of the mine was immediately followed by an intense barrage of enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire. Specialist Press, realizing that his comrades were in dire need of medical attention, dismounted his assault vehicle and with complete disregard for his personal safety, ran through the intense hostile fire to the overturned assault vehicle. Arriving at the heavily damaged vehicle, Specialist Press remained fully exposed to the communist fire in order to apply first aid to the wounded crewmembers. After treating the wounded men, Specialist Press carried them to the relative safety of a nearby assault vehicle to await an evacuation helicopter. Specialist Four Press’ unwavering devotion to duty, disregard of personal safety while under hostile fire and deep concern for the lives of his comrades in arms 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. 58 (9 January 1969)
ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ROBERT MONTGOMERY PRESS
17 MARCH 1968
HEADQUARTERS AND HEADQUARTERS TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Private First Class Press distinguished himself on 17 March 1968, while serving as a Medical Aidman with Troop I, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, on a combat mission near Due Hoa, Vietnam. When a nearby cavalry assault vehicle was struck by an antitank rocket, Private Press unhesitatingly rushed through a hail of fire to the disabled vehicle, administered emergency first aid to the wounded and prepared them for movement to a medical evacuation site. Private First Glass Press’ heroic actions 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. 4325 (6 June 1968)