Medal of Honor Recipient still leading troops

KUWAIT(Army News Service, April 29, 2006) – Life can go down many avenues. For then-Specialist Fourth Class Gordon Roberts, the roads treaded deep into Vietnam’s Thua Thien Province, testing his every attribute that would win him a spot in military history.

Roberts, a native of Lebanon, Ohio, joined the Army three days after graduating from high school, a natural step for someone from a military family growing up in a small, patriotic town.

The date was July 11, 1969. Roberts was a rifleman with Company B, 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry, sent to eliminate enemy bunkers along a ridge. While approaching the bunkers, his convoy was hit by heavy fire from automatic weapons and grenades. Moving quickly, he made his way from his immobilized platoon towards the closest bunker, firing while running, silencing bunker after bunker. Despite the waves of enemy fire, he helped the wounded and continued fighting -- finally returning to his unit.

Roberts’ actions not only saved the lives of Soldiers and helped defeat the enemy, but earned him a spot in history as a Medal of Honor recipient -- at the age of 19.

While the path was treacherous and the moment ruthless, the experience did not deter him from life’s course. In fact, it was only the beginning.

After serving four years in the Army, he attended the University of Dayton and earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology. He gained a wife, son and daughter. He raced sprint cars. He practiced social work for 18 years. By 1989, Roberts felt it was time to take a new path, one out of business attire. He applied for and received a direct commission as an Army officer.

“I left the (old) Army and came back to this one because this Army is much better,” Roberts said as he discussed today’s Soldiers and leadership. He was officer in charge of force protection for 1st COSCOM at Camp Anaconda, Balad, Iraq.

Now a lieutenant colonel, Roberts has left footprints in the sands of Iraq and in the hearts and minds of today’s Soldiers as he offered experience and advice. He may be the youngest living Medal of Honor recipient, but he sees himself as a comrade, a leader and developer of troops.

“I think everyone thinks a Medal of Honor somehow translates into leadership, but I don’t think that is inherently accurate,” says Roberts. He notes that actions speak louder than words.

“What I may bring is a little piece of confidence for the Soldiers when I ride along. They know I have been through a lot and look at me and say, ‘well, if he can do it -- I can do it,” he said.

Despite his 125 pound structure, Soldiers know Roberts has a wealth of knowledge and often look to him for advice. Soldiers often request a reflection of what happened that day in Vietnam. Although his biography is found on internet sites and military publications world-wide, the story is as real today as it was in 1969.

Roberts said that during Vietnam, Soldiers were drafted, and training and leadership was sometimes lacking, but today’s Army is composed of volunteers and leadership is more focused on training to fight.

“I don’t see myself as being any different than anybody else,” he explained. “But I understand.”

Despite this self-perception, Roberts knows there are certain responsibilities which come with being a Medal of Honor recipient.

“There is a level of expectation and obligations that come with it,” Roberts said. “It is hard in one sense but good in another.”

For example, Roberts received a full scholarship to the University of Dayton and a new car when he returned from Vietnam. After his 18 year break in service, Roberts said he felt fortunate to have been granted new opportunities in positions above his former rank, but his obligations are not only to the military.

“In any year, I may do 60 or 70 speeches,” he added. “The requests for speeches, stories and interviews can be overwhelming.”

While being a Medal of Honor recipient may sound glamorous, Roberts believes otherwise. He considers himself fortunate to have survived the experience, and sees it as such – an experience. While the event added a medal to his uniform, he has declined to let fame change who he is.

“I’ve tried not to change,” says Roberts. “In fact, my focus is on the basics. I have an obligation to you and anyone sharing the same uniform. I have an obligation to be able to do my job and to be in a foxhole next to you, to be able to protect you and the environment.”

Since the historic convoy in Vietnam, Roberts learned a major lesson on how to define oneself.

“I learned a long time ago that you are no better than your next award,” he said. “But awards, they are just material. I think people define themselves by things like that and I’m not going to let someone define me by what award I get -- and they can give me an award, but only I know if I’ve earned it.”

Roberts says awards, medals and recognition serve another purpose but he believes that "you can translate who you are through your past, but once you stop striving, it’s over."

From high school and Vietnam, civilian life and his present military career, Roberts built his philosophy on leadership. He also learned from a hero, legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden.

“He always sat in his chair -- even in overtime he never got up, and he did this because he believed his job was done by that point,” he added. “He believed that if he had taught the players all they needed during the year, they would do well.”

Roberts frequently joined convoy missions in Iraq and enjoyed riding along and watching from the back seat. He observed his troops but did so from a distance. He said that though he has more experience and stories than most, he has faith in his troops the way Wooden had in his players.

“I let the convoy commanders do their job even though I outrank them," he said as he further explained his leadership philosophy. "It is their job -- that young Soldier up front is going to have to make a decision. Their decisions are the ones the rest of the company is going to have to live with. My job is to make sure Soldiers are prepared to make those decisions.”

Roberts speaks from the heart. Maybe this is because he was that young Soldier on the front lines or maybe it is just part of his leadership style. Either way, Roberts believes in his troops and they believe in him, too.

“Soldiers need to have confidence in their leadership and know that their leadership is fighting for what they need,” he said. Throughout his time in the service, Roberts has shared good times and bad with troops. Roberts personally knows the face of the enemy and the heart of today’s Soldier and says he would re-walk his life path over again if he had to.

“I have not had a job in the Army that I haven’t enjoyed,” Roberts said with a smile.

“I shoot a great deal,” he said. “I’ve always looked at it as my obligation to be a good marksman and that grew into competing.” The practiced rifleman fires more than 20,000 rounds a year and is a winner of many competitions.

From Vietnam to Iraq and through hard times and good, Roberts has proven himself to be an exemplary Soldier, marksman, comrade and citizen. Where his future will go from here he does not know, but Roberts does not fret. The path was not always easy and presented obstacles along the way, but with each step he leaves a footprint which will be remembered forever in military history. And there is still much road ahead.

Pretty much how President Bush is waging this WOT - too bad all the pundits, congressmen and senators can't do the same thing.

Lieutenant Colonel Roberts is truly an exemplary American.

CITATION: Rank and organization: Sergeant (then Sp4c.), U.S. Army, Company B, 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. Place and date: Thua Thien Province, Republic of Vietnam, 11 July 1969. Entered service at: Cincinnati, Ohio. Born: 14 June 1950, Middletown, Ohio. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Roberts distinguished himself while serving as a rifleman in Company B, during combat operations. Sgt. Roberts' platoon was maneuvering along a ridge to attack heavily fortified enemy bunker positions which had pinned down an adjoining friendly company. As the platoon approached the enemy positions, it was suddenly pinned down by heavy automatic weapons and grenade fire from camouflaged enemy fortifications atop the overlooking hill. Seeing his platoon immobilized and in danger of failing in its mission, Sgt. Roberts crawled rapidly toward the closest enemy bunker. With complete disregard for his safety, he leaped to his feet and charged the bunker, firing as he ran. Despite the intense enemy fire directed at him, Sgt. Roberts silenced the 2-man bunker. Without hesitation, Sgt. Roberts continued his l-man assault on a second bunker. As he neared the second bunker, a burst of enemy fire knocked his rifle from his hands. Sgt. Roberts picked up a rifle dropped by a comrade and continued his assault, silencing the bunker. He continued his charge against a third bunker and destroyed it with well-thrown hand grenades. Although Sgt. Roberts was now cut off from his platoon, he continued his assault against a fourth enemy emplacement. He fought through a heavy hail of fire to join elements of the adjoining company which had been pinned down by the enemy fire. Although continually exposed to hostile fire, he assisted in moving wounded personnel from exposed positions on the hilltop to an evacuation area before returning to his unit. By his gallant and selfless actions, Sgt. Roberts contributed directly to saving the lives of his comrades and served as an inspiration to his fellow soldiers in the defeat of the enemy force. Sgt. Roberts' extraordinary heroism in action at the risk of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

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