Eric+O.+and+Austin+L.

Eric O. and Austin L. **Rank:** Sergeant**Organization:** U.S. Army**Company:** Company B, 1st Battalion**Division:** 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division**Born:** 14 June 1950, Middletown, Ohio**Departed:** No**Entered Service At:** Cincinnati, Ohio**G.O. Number:****Date of Issue:****Accredited To:****Place / Date:** Thua Thien Province, Republic of Vietnam, 11 July 1969

**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 foProxy-Connection: keep-alive Cache-Control: max-age=0 roxy-Connection: keep-alive Cache-Control: max-age=0 oxy-Connection: keep-alive Cache-Control: max-age=0 0his safety, he leaped to his feet and charged a 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.

__Battle of Hamburger Hill__
The Battle of Hamburger Hill was fought between the United States and North/South Vietnam. It was during the Vietnam War and was heavily fortified by the Vietnamese. U.S. forces were ordered a direct assault on Hill 937. The battle took ten days to reach the result which was a United States victory. This battle was the turning point in the war. During this battle 72 U.S troops were killed while hundreds were injured.

__Interview Questions__
1. Why did you join the Army? Was there a draft? 2. Who inspired you?

3. When was your first real war experience and what was it like? What platoon were you in?

4. Was it hard to interact with the other soldiers in your platoon?

5. How long did you serve?

6. What was it like leaving your family?

7. What was going through your mind during the event that earned you the CMOH?

8. Where was your location and what were the conditions like there?

9. Did you ever interact with the Vietnamese during the war?

10. Were you always well equipped with firearms, food, and other supplies throughout that war?

11. Besides the event in which you earned the MOH, what other memories stand out in your mind.

12. Did you plan on joining the army when you were younger?

13. What was the problem that flared the war?

14. Were you always aware of what was going on in the war outside of your platoon?

15. Do you still interact with the men you served with?

16. Were you ever severely injured in war?

17. What was the average day like while the war was going on?

18. Can you explain to us what your medals stand for and how you earned them?

19. Was the Vietnam war worth fighting for?

20. Did you ever lose hope?

21. Where did you start off? Where did you finish?

22. How did you earn your way up in rankings?

23. After the War, what was the first step in your new life?

24. Was is hard to put your past experiences behind you and move on?

25. What does it mean to you to earn the CMOH?

= = = = = = = > Interview Questions > 1. Why did you join the Army? I joined the Army because our nation was at war and it just seemed to me that everyone has that duty during such times. I grew up in a small town that instilled those kind of values in all of us. > Was there a draft? Yes there was but I did not want to wait for that. I was wanting to start college and it seemed like a good idea to go into the Army first. > 2. Who inspired you? All the Vets in my home town. > > 3. When was your first real war experience and what was it like? Hamburger Hill was my first combat. It was very hard. > What platoon were you in? 1st Platoon > > 4. Was it hard to interact with the other soldiers in your platoon? No, each were very helpful to the new guy. > > 5. How long did you serve? 3 years, then went to the University of Dayton. > > 6. What was it like leaving your family? Very hard. I knew they would worry. I think our families have it harder than us who deploy. > > 7. What was going through your mind during the event that earned > you the CMOH? We had to get to the unit that was under attack or they would all be destroyed. > > 8. Where was your location and what were the conditions like there? We were a rescue platoon sent in on the flank of Delta company in an attempt break through the trap they were caught in. > > 9. Did you ever interact with the Vietnamese during the war? No. the area we were in for the entire year was unpopulated. > > 10. Were you always well equipped with firearms, food, and other > supplies throughout that war? No ran out of both on a few occasions. > > 11. Besides the event in which you earned the MOH, what other > memories stand out in your mind. The bravery of all those I served with. > > 12. Did you plan on joining the army when you were younger? No. > > 13. What was the problem that flared the war? We did not understand the culture of the people we were trying to help. > > 14. Were you always aware of what was going on in the war outside > of your platoon? No. > > 15. Do you still interact with the men you served with? Very little. > > 16. Were you ever severely injured in war? No. > > 17. What was the average day like while the war was going on? We carried rucks that weighted 50 to 60 pounds every day all day up to 15 hours a day. We were nearly always out in the jungles. > > 18. Can you explain to us what your medals stand for and how you > earned them? They mean that people that I served with thought I did well enough to nominate me for them. That means more than anything the medals actually stand for. > > 19. Was the Vietnam war worth fighting for? Of course. We may have failed in some way but that does not mean we should not have tried to help the people of another country. > > 20. Did you ever lose hope? I tried to have no hope but I also tried to have no fear. I find either can be problem. When you have hope you are going to make it you can become too cautious. > > 21. Where did you start off? Where did you finish? Started in the Ashaw Valley and stayed there the entire year. As regards rank, started as a PFC and ended up a Sergent. > > 22. How did you earn your way up in rankings? Everyone was promoted by the Company Commander. > > 23. After the War, what was the first step in your new life? College > > 24. Was is hard to put your past experiences behind you and move on? Yes. It is still hard. > > 25. What does it mean to you to earn the CMOH? No one is any better than there next award. I am just pround to have the opportunity to serve my country. = = = =**History**=

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