Shelby County Veterans Service Commission in Honor of:

SGT Robert J. Gold, U.S. ARMY KIA 26 February

Hosted by Shelby County Veterans Service Commissioners and Sidney, Ohio VFW Post 4239
Master of Ceremonies: Ed Ball, Shelby County Exec Dir/CVSO Welcome Remarks:

Commissioner Guillozet, Mayor Barhorst, Mr. Benner, Mrs. Pettit, Gold family, and friends, welcome and thank you for coming. This evening we are honoring SGT Robert J. Gold, United States Army, and those he stepped into battle with, men that began their journey together on September 22, 1966, in South Vietnam. It was in a thick laden jungle over 8,800 miles away that they made their ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, this very day, 46 years ago. Tonight, as we gather together, we are one, our bond is forged out of deep respect, admiration, and devotion for those that answer our nations call to duty. Let us begin with our Invocation by Duane Mullin, Chaplain for VFW Post 4239.
Invocation: Duane Mullen, Chaplain VFW Post 4239 Shelby County KIA: PFC McFarlin, Charles Richard, USMC, Sidney, 10DEC65 CAPT Katterhenry, Terry Fisher, USAF, Sidney, 20DEC65 A1C Pleimann, James Edward, USAF, Russia, 24MAR66 LCPL Meyer, Robert Jerome, USMC, Sidney, 14JAN67 SGT Gold, Robert Joseph, USA Sidney, 26FEB67 CPL Wolfe, Daniel Edward, USA, Sidney, 22APR68 SGT Locker, James Douglas, USAF, Sidney, 09JUN68 SP4 Gross, Gary Wayne, USA, Jackson Center, 16DEC68 PFC Miller, William Harvey, USA, Sidney, 03FEB69 PFC Taylor, Earl Eugene, USMC, Maplewood, 08MAR69 1

SP4 Rickey, Lawrence David, USA, Anna, 15APR69 SP4 Jones, Monte Richard, USA Sidney, 23JUN69 PFC Frilling, Jerome Raymond, USA Sidney, 30 SEP70 CWO Miller, Benton Lewis, USA, Sidney, 18NOV70 Shelby County POW/MIA: SSGT Huston, Charles Gregory, USA, Sidney, 28MAR68

As we light the candles this evening, may we be reminded of their youth, their joy, and the love that shined around them. The two bells announce their arrival, in spirit, in our midst, and pays tribute to the honor that we have bestowed on each and every one of them. Their legacy, no matter how short with family, loved ones, friends and fellow soldiers, shall live on in our memories forever, and may they never be forgotten. Welcome Home! Lighting of Candles: Theresa Manteuffel, Veterans Service Officer SP4 William Doc Coggeshall, HHC, 2d Bn, 12th Inf Rgt, born 08/14/1946, age 20, Home town Marshfield, MA, Started Tour 09/22/1966 KIA 02/25/1967 SP4 Leon Delbert Eckhart, B Co, 2d Bn, 12th Inf Rgt, born 12/05/1945, age 21, Home town Lehighton, PA Started Tour 09/22/1966 KIA 02/25/1967 SSGT John K. Davis, B Co, 2d Bn, 12th Inf Rgt, born 08/18/1943, age 23, Home town Fort Jackson, SC Started Tour 09/22/1966 KIA 02/26/1967 SP4 Edward J. Ginter, B Co, 2d Bn, 12th Inf Rgt, born 07/30/1946, age 20, Home town Greensburg, PA Started Tour 09/22/1966 KIA 02/26/1967 PFC Warren F. Muhr, B Co, 2d Bn, 12th Inf Rgt, born 01/21/1946, age 21, Home town Chicago, IL Started Tour 09/22/1966 KIA 02/26/1967 SGT Donald L Pender, B Co, 2d Bn, 12th Inf Rgt, born 02/13/1942, age 25, Home town Tacoma, WA Started Tour 09/22/1966 KIA 02/26/1967 SGT Robert J. Gold, B Co, 2d Bn, 12th Inf Rgt, born 09/20/1946, age 20, Home town Sidney, OH
2

Started Tour 09/22/1966 Remarks: (Family, Friends)

KIA 02/26/1967

~Reading of Operation Junction City

The following is an account of the February 25 & 26 Company B battle that appeared in the 4th Divisions newspaper the IVEY LEAF, Vol. I No.18, March 10, 1967: 3/22nd TROOPS, 2/77th ARTILLERYMEN ASSIST BESIEGED 2/12th COMPANY DAU TIENG - Accurate close supporting artillery fire, quick response of nearby friendly forces, and calm professionalism of members of Company B, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry, saved their unit from being overrun in a two-hour battle during Operation Junction City. Company B of the 3rd Brigade, 4th Division battalion was conducting a search and destroy mission in the northwest portion of War Zone C when It was attacked by two reinforced companies of Viet Cong. As the Ivey company approached a clearing near the suspected site of a sizeable VC base camp, the Ivymen were taken under fire from six machine guns, an equal number of automatic weapons, and small arms and grenades from at least a company- size force to their front. They returned the fire and began to receive fire from the rear by an equal size force. Captain Leon R. Mayer, Company B commander, radioed for fire support and within minutes a rain of 105mm, 155mm and eight-inch shells ringed the surrounded company. During the fire fight, supporting units poured in over 1000 rounds, hitting the attacking Viet Cong in their ground positions and knocking snipers from trees. This close, extremely accurate fire which had been placed within 25 meters of the trapped company was described by Colonel Marshall B. Garth, 3rd Brigade commander, as "the finest I have seen to date." The enemy was repelled long enough to allow Company B of the 3rd Battalion, 22nd Infantry, to come in and reinforce the 2/12th company and help drive off the Viet Cong. Captain Walter Shugart, commander of the 3/22nd company, moved his men through 1500 meters of dense jungle in just 30 minutes to assist the defending unit. The Viet Cong fled during the night leaving 12 dead. Colonel Garth told both company commanders that they had done an outstanding job. He personally congratulated members of the division's 2nd Battalion, 77th Artillery. Attention to General Orders 1161: (Please rise) Reading of BSM with Valor
Amazing Grace on bagpipes: Firing Squad: Taps:

As we extinguish the candles we are reminded that today they are but a spirit free to travel in a world that knows no sorrow, no pain, and no heartache, for theirs is an eternal peace, until we meet again. The single bell tolls and lingers upon our hearts, knowing our loved one and fellow soldier has departed, but in our heart, he is always free to return in our time of need, and somehow, we just know he is there to comfort each of us, with the knowledge that he answered the call: Much like in Isaiah ch 6 vs 8: Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And they all said, Here am I. Send me!
Extinguishing Candles: Theresa Manteuffel, Veterans Service Officer

Benediction: Duane Mullen, Chaplain VFW Post 4239 Closing Remarks: Ed Ball, Exec Dir/CVSO I want to especially thank our County Commissioners, Mayor of Sidney, the Gold family, and Carleen Pettit, thank each and every one of you this evening for being here. This concludes our service. Refreshments and sandwiches are readily available to the rear. May God Bless You and May God Bless these United States of America.