THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
Washington, D.C.
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the NAVY CROSS posthumously to:
PAUL FREDERICK COBB
Second Lieutenant
United States Marine Corps
for service as set forth in the following
CITATION:
The Navy Cross is awarded to Second Lieutenant Paul F. Cobb, United States Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism while serving as a Platoon Commander with Company A, First Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division in the Republic of Vietnam on 16 May 1968. During Operation Allen Brook in Quang Nam Province, Lieutenant Cobb's platoon was assigned the mission of reinforcing an adjacent unit which was heavily engaged with a well-entrenched enemy force and had sustained numerous casualties. Under intense fire, he led his men to a position behind the most heavily engaged element of the besieged company where he prepared to continue the attack against the enemy. In order that the pinned-down Marines could evacuate their casualties from the fire-swept area, he established a base of fire utilizing small arms and M-79 grenade launcher fire and began maneuvering his unit across the hazardous terrain. Forced to crawl forward toward the hostile emplacements due to a heavy volume of the enemy's automatic weapons, machine gun, B-40 rocket and mortar fire, he ignored the fire striking all round him, as he shouted directions and encouragement to his men. As he approached to within 20 meters of the enemy's positions, he was wounded by hostile fire, however, he aggressively led his men in hand-to-hand combat. While maneuvering forward with his men, he was mortally wounded by the enemy fire. His courageous leadership during the initial and ensuing assaults inspired his men to continue to advance and overwhelm the enemy to the point of defeat. By his bold determination and unwavering and selfless dedication to duty, Lieutenant Cobb upheld the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
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A Note from The Virtual Wall
The 16 May fight for the fortified hamlet at Phu Dong was the first major engagement in Operation Allen Brook, aimed at clearing VC and NVA forces from Go Noi Island, formed by the confluence of the Ky Lam, Ba Ren, and Chiem Son Rivers.
At Phu Dong, three companies of Marines assaulted dug-in North Vietnamese Army regulars from the newly-arrived 36th Regiment, 308th NVA Division. By days' end the NVA had been forced from Phu Dong, leaving more than 130 dead behind. In addition to 38 wounded, the Marines lost 25 men killed in action:
- I Co, 3rd Bn, 27th Marines
- Pfc Vincent S. Coles, Newark, NJ
- Pfc Jack Henderson, Chicago, IL
- A Co, 1st Bn, 7th Marines
- 2ndLt Paul F. Cobb, Roanoke, VA (Navy Cross)
- Cpl Douglas E. Foster, Bellbrook, OH
- Cpl Jerry G. Hollingsworth, Columbia, SC
- LCpl James D. Gross, Pittsburg, CA
- LCpl William L. Pate, Robertsdale, AL
- Pfc Roger K. Jones, Hampton, VA
- Pfc Richard K. Morrison, Silver Spring, MD
- Pfc Terry M. Ward, Bicknell, IN
- Pvt James L. Hill, Ponchatoula, LA
- HN Leroy W. Poppema, Hospers, IA (Corpsman, H&S with Alpha 1/7)
- G Co, 2nd Bn, 7th Marines
- HM3 Robert M. Casey, Guttenberg, NJ (Corpsman, H&S with Golf 2/7) (Navy Cross)
- LCpl Marvin A. Bullock, Elm City, NC
- Cpl Charles R. Hendrix, Louisville, KY
- LCpl Michael E. Johnson, Hickam Afb, HI
- LCpl John D. Ponder, High Ridge, MO
- Pfc Robert G. Freeman, Fayetteville, NC
- Pfc Ernest C. McCrimmon, Raleigh, NC
- Pfc Ormond M. Miller, Gadsden, AL
- Pfc Michael J. Morris, Albuquerque, NM
- Pfc Samuel F. Rolen, Idabel, OK
- Pfc Bruce E. Teague, Canoga Park, CA
- Pvt Robert E. Church, Lakehurst, NJ
- Pvt William E. Koehler, Newport News, VA
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