Rank: Sergeant
Unit: A Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist
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: 12-Jan-1944
Hometown: Mcminnville, Oregon
Marital status: Married to Mary Shipley, one son
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 7-Mar-1962
Start of tour: 11-Sep-1967
Incident date: 6-Jun-1968
Date of casualty: 6-Jun-1968
Age at death: 24
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Artillery/Mortar/Rocket. Artillery, rocket, or mortar.
Roger William Shipley died from wounds received while commander on military vehicle on combat operation when vehicle was hit by hostile anti-tank round.
Location of fatality: Binh Duong, South Vietnam
Place of interment: Evergreen Memorial Park, McMinnville, Oregon, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
SERGEANT ROGER WILLIAM SHIPLEY
3 FEBRUARY 1968
A TROOP, 1st SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Sergeant Shipley distinguished himself by valorous actions on the afternoon of 3 February 1968, while serving as a Vehicle Commander with Troop A, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, on a reconnaissance-in-force mission north of Thu Duc, Vietnam. The lead vehicle received several direct hits by rockets and was disabled. Reacting instantly, Sergeant Shipley moved his vehicle forward to provide suppressive fire for the evacuation of the wounded. When one of his machine gunners became seriously wounded, Sergeant Shipley immediately directed his armored cavalry assault vehicle through the enemy fire to an evacuation site and saw to the removal of the wounded comrade. Sergeant Shipley’s 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. 4929 (22 June 1968)