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1LT Robert Leslie Poxon

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1LT Robert Leslie Poxon Famous memorial Veteran

Birth
Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, USA
Death
2 Jun 1969 (aged 22)
Tây Ninh, Tây Ninh, Vietnam
Burial
Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, USA GPS-Latitude: 42.4140587, Longitude: -83.0299377
Memorial ID
View Source
Vietnam Medal of Honor Recipient. Poxon served as a First Lieutenant, United States Army, Troop B, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division. He was awarded his medal posthumously for service at Tay Ninh Province, Republic of Vietnam, on June 2, 1969. His citation reads-For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 1st Lt. Poxon, Armor, Troop B, distinguished himself while serving as a platoon leader on a reconnaissance mission. Landing by helicopter in an area suspected of being occupied by the enemy, the platoon came under intense fire from enemy soldiers in concealed positions and fortifications around the landing zone. A soldier fell, hit by the first burst of fire. 1st Lt. Poxon dashed to his aid, drawing the majority of the enemy fire as he crossed 20 meters of open ground. The fallen soldier was beyond help and 1st Lt. Poxon was seriously and painfully wounded. 1st Lt. Poxon, with indomitable courage, refused medical aid and evacuation and turned his attention to seizing the initiative from the enemy. With sure instinct he marked a central enemy bunker as the key to success. Quickly instructing his men to concentrate their fire on the bunker, and in spite of his wound, 1st Lt. Poxon crawled toward the bunker, readied a hand grenade and charged. He was hit again but continued his assault. After succeeding in silencing the enemy guns in the bunker he was struck once again by enemy fire and fell, mortally wounded. 1st Lt. Poxon's comrades followed their leader, pressed the attack and drove the enemy from their positions. 1st Lt. Poxon's gallantry, indomitable will, and courage are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
Vietnam Medal of Honor Recipient. Poxon served as a First Lieutenant, United States Army, Troop B, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division. He was awarded his medal posthumously for service at Tay Ninh Province, Republic of Vietnam, on June 2, 1969. His citation reads-For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 1st Lt. Poxon, Armor, Troop B, distinguished himself while serving as a platoon leader on a reconnaissance mission. Landing by helicopter in an area suspected of being occupied by the enemy, the platoon came under intense fire from enemy soldiers in concealed positions and fortifications around the landing zone. A soldier fell, hit by the first burst of fire. 1st Lt. Poxon dashed to his aid, drawing the majority of the enemy fire as he crossed 20 meters of open ground. The fallen soldier was beyond help and 1st Lt. Poxon was seriously and painfully wounded. 1st Lt. Poxon, with indomitable courage, refused medical aid and evacuation and turned his attention to seizing the initiative from the enemy. With sure instinct he marked a central enemy bunker as the key to success. Quickly instructing his men to concentrate their fire on the bunker, and in spite of his wound, 1st Lt. Poxon crawled toward the bunker, readied a hand grenade and charged. He was hit again but continued his assault. After succeeding in silencing the enemy guns in the bunker he was struck once again by enemy fire and fell, mortally wounded. 1st Lt. Poxon's comrades followed their leader, pressed the attack and drove the enemy from their positions. 1st Lt. Poxon's gallantry, indomitable will, and courage are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

Bio by: The Silent Forgotten


Inscription

MICHIGAN
1ST LT TRPB9 CAV 1 CAV DIV
VIETNAM MEDAL OF HONOR
BSM-AM-PH



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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Added: Sep 11, 2003
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7861967/robert_leslie-poxon: accessed ), memorial page for 1LT Robert Leslie Poxon (3 Jan 1947–2 Jun 1969), Find a Grave Memorial ID 7861967, citing Forest Lawn Cemetery, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.