Robert Charles Lopez
Private First Class
D BTRY, 2ND BN, 13TH MARINES, 1ST MARDIV, III MAF United States Marine Corps Albuquerque, New Mexico September 30, 1948 to May 10, 1968 ROBERT C LOPEZ is on the Wall at Panel 58E, Line 11 |
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Oh, Bobby, this is cousin Rosie, your dad and mom's Goddaughter. I am so glad you have finally been brought back to the United States. You are laid to rest at Arlington Memorial Cemetery. We have wondered about you over the years, my nino and nina would update me with news about the search for you when I would come to Albuquerque to visit. Now, I have moved back permanently, and was able to attend the memorial service for you. The outpouring of love for you could be felt throughout the service. You would have been humbled by the showing of kindnesses that were presented to your family in various ways. Of course, everyone misses you, not a day doesn't go by that someone doesn't remember you. I can remember playing in your garage when I came to spend the night and running, always running we were when we were kids, not like kids today. Now, my son is in the Air Force, I worry about him having to be sent to the latest war in Middle East. Then, I remember your bravery and try not to worry so much.
Welcome home.
Rosemarie L. Marcelli-Nelson |
A Note from The Virtual WallIn the spring of 1968 the North Vietnamese Army's 2nd Division was enroute to South Vietnam, moving down the Ho Chi Minh trail in Laos. By early May, the division's advance regiments - the 1st and 2nd Regiments - had entered South Vietnam using the French-built Route 14 which passed by the old French fort at Ngok Tavak. The NVA commanders decided that Ngok Tavak and the main Special Forces camp at Kham Duc had to go.Beginning at about 0300 on 10 May 1968, Ngok Tavak came under heavy attack by a North Vietnamese Army infantry battalion, an element of the 2nd NVA Regiment. In a pitched battle, the small force of defenders staved off immediate defeat, but by noon on 10 May it was clear that Ngok Tavak would have to be abandoned. Surrounded on three sides by the 2nd NVA Regiment, it was clear the withdrawal would have to be by foot moving to the north - the attacking force had made a helicopter evacuation impossible. After destroying equipment and supplies which could not be carried out, the survivors began the move to the main camp at Kham Duc, proceeding along a lane flanked by near-continuous air strikes. They were picked up by helicopter midway to Kham Duc, arriving at the camp at about 2100 (9 PM) on 10 May. The defending force at Ngok Tavak had incurred numerous losses in both known dead and missing soldiers and Marines:
In a sense, the survivors of Ngok Tavok jumped from the frying pan into the fire - Kham Duc itself was under heavy attack. What happened next is covered on The Virtual Wall's
Kham Duc memorial.
The following text is exerpted from the 2nd Bn, 13th Marines' Command Chronology for May 1968; it addresses the D Battery detachment sent to Ngok Tavak:
Several pages further on is a list of the 43 Marines and one Navy Corpsman in the detachment; of the 44, 13 were dead (11 not recovered); 18 wounded had been medevaced by helo; and 13 moved out by ground with the other survivors. The detachment was recommended for a Meritorious Unit Citation; a portion of the text notes that "During the helicopter evacuation, members of the Detachment voluntarily remained on the ground to provide security until the rest of the survivors had been extracted and the last helo was ready to depart."
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