Robert Jesse Kiser
Staff Sergeant
D CO, 4TH BN, 503RD INFANTRY, 173RD ABN BDE, USARV
Army of the United States
Stamford, Connecticut
December 03, 1949 to April 03, 1971
ROBERT J KISER is on the Wall at Panel W4, Line 103

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02 Nov 2003

Bob was one of six soldiers killed 4/3/71 by enemy fire and claymore mines. The battle occurred in Military Region II, approximately 30 miles NW of Qui Nhon in the Soui Ca Valley, ten miles inland from the South China Sea. He was in Company D, 4th Battalion, 503rd Infantry.

He was my first true love. His mom sent me back all of the letters I had sent to Bob in Viet Nam, my last few came back unopened because he didn't live to read them. I have every letter he sent me.

Bob was a talented musician, a wonderful pianist, a gentle soul. He hated the war, but loved the Vietnamese people whom he wrote about.

Bob took me on a walk through the woods in New Canaan, Connecticut, before leaving for Viet Nam. He had me close my eyes. He led me by the hand with his thumb holding my thumb down as he always did when we held hands. As we continued, the path we were on began to "crunch" more and more. When we reached our destination he had me open my eyes. We were in the middle of an abandoned quartz quarry which shone brilliantly in the sunlight. The crunching path had been the mica in the dirt leading to the quarry. Bob said that he would knock a piece of the beautiful quartz off for me to keep, but that the beauty was in the depth of the rock, not in any individual small piece. The beauty of Bob was his depth ... depth of gentleness, depth of affection, depth of loving concern for those he loved.

I have missed him terribly. One never gets over the loss of their first true love or leaves the hopeful dreams of a life together easily behind.

I thank Jehovah God for his mercy and loving kindness. I know I will see Bob again in the resurrection when all the pain and sorrow that today's world brings will be forgotten. Rev 21:1-5. Mom Kiser will be back with her son Bob and his brother Phillip who also lost his life in Vietnam on a third tour, though civilian.

Submitted lovingly and respectfully.


 

A Note from The Virtual Wall

The six men of Delta Company, 4/503rd Infantry, who died in the explosion were
  • SSG Arthur Best, Kenansville, NC
  • SSG Gary Butt, Chateauguay, Quebec, Canada
  • SSG Robert J. Kiser, Stamford, CT
  • SSG Howard O. Warbington, Pascagoula, MS
  • CPL Wayne R. Borowski, Fayetteville, NC
  • SP4 Edward J. Rog, Chicago, IL

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