Robert, "Sonny" as he was affectionately called by his family and friends was the son of Robert A. and Annie M. Smith of Newport News VA. He enlisted in the US Marine Corps on June 19, 1964 in Richmond VA and was serving with Company H, 2d Battalion, 7th Marines, 3d MARDIV (Rein) FMF when the unit engaged NVA forces on Operation UTAH.
On March 4, during Operation UTAH the first wave of Marines were taken under fire but managed to secure the landing zone and begin to move towards their objectives. Advancing in a general easterly direction, the Marines pushed forward for a few hundred meters before that were taken under heavy enemy fire. Company G penetrated the enemy positions in two places but couldn't take advantage of these minor gains because of the lack of reserves. Company H on the right, made some progress until the NVA counterattacked in force. The attack was repulsed with the use of 81 mm mortars on the NVA troops pouring across open rice paddies. The NVA then stuck Company F with a heavy volume of fire; casualties were piling up from the devastating enemy fire for all the Marine units battling the hardened enemy troops they encountered in the open paddies, in the hedgerows and tree lines. The NVA attack was finally repulsed by air strikes, using bombs, rockets and napalm that were dropped on the NVA until the Marines reached their night defensive positions near the hamlet of Chau Nhai.
PFC Smith died as a result of fragmentation wounds from a hostile explosive device, one of forty-four Marine casualties from the 2d Battalion killed in action by the enemy during the battle. Five Marines from Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines were also killed.
Casualties:
H&S Company: Nine men Killed in Action
Company F: Twelve men Killed in Action, one died of wounds
Company G: Four men Killed In Action
Casualties: Company H
Richard Graham Allen
Raymond Blanchette
Rupert Sadler Carven III
John Jay Edwards
Andrew Lalone Hastings
Klaus Jurgen Herms
Henry James Hooper
William John Hrinko
William Johnson
Lewis Albert Kimmel
Franz Joseph Kolbeck
Vinford Franklyn Michael
Henry Duane Odom
Peter Gary Scavuzzo
Robert Lee Smith Jr.
Charles Robert Wetzel
* A marker was ordered for Sonny and delivered to the wrong cemetery at the Old Donation Church in Virginia Beach where it lay on the ground for forty-four years. With the burial error discovered and LCpl Smith's final resting place confirmed, the marker was moved to it's rightful place where he is at rest.
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Transcribed from the "Daily Press [Newport News, VA], March 9, 1966, page 12
"Cpl. R. L. Smith Killed In Action.
Lance Cpl. Robert L. "Sonny' Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Smith of 236 N. Colony Road, Newport News, was killed in action in Viet Nam Friday, the Defense Department announced.
Cpl. Smith had been serving in Viet Nam since June when he was transferred from Camp Pendleton, Calif. He attended Ferguson High School before enlisting in the Marine Corps on June 19, 1964. He received basic training at Parris Island, S.C., and was stationed at Camp Le Jeune, N.C., before being sent to Camp Pendleton.
He had previously attended Warwick High School. He was born in Newport News July 31, 1945, and lived here all his life. Cpl. Smith was stationed with the 7th Marine Regiment at Chu Lai. He reportedly died of shrapnel wounds received in combat with the enemy in the Quang Ngai area.
Surviving, besides his parents, are three sisters, Mrs. Betty Ann Hurr of Yorktown, Mrs. Judy Montgomery of Grafton and Miss Thelma Kay Smith at home; his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Alice White of Newport News; and his paternal grandmother, Mrs. N. J. Carr of Elkins, W.Va. Funeral arrangements are incomplete. The body will be taken to W. J. Smith and Son Funeral Home on arrival from Viet Nam."
Obit courtesy of Royce E. Hostetler
On March 4, during Operation UTAH the first wave of Marines were taken under fire but managed to secure the landing zone and begin to move towards their objectives. Advancing in a general easterly direction, the Marines pushed forward for a few hundred meters before that were taken under heavy enemy fire. Company G penetrated the enemy positions in two places but couldn't take advantage of these minor gains because of the lack of reserves. Company H on the right, made some progress until the NVA counterattacked in force. The attack was repulsed with the use of 81 mm mortars on the NVA troops pouring across open rice paddies. The NVA then stuck Company F with a heavy volume of fire; casualties were piling up from the devastating enemy fire for all the Marine units battling the hardened enemy troops they encountered in the open paddies, in the hedgerows and tree lines. The NVA attack was finally repulsed by air strikes, using bombs, rockets and napalm that were dropped on the NVA until the Marines reached their night defensive positions near the hamlet of Chau Nhai.
PFC Smith died as a result of fragmentation wounds from a hostile explosive device, one of forty-four Marine casualties from the 2d Battalion killed in action by the enemy during the battle. Five Marines from Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines were also killed.
Casualties:
H&S Company: Nine men Killed in Action
Company F: Twelve men Killed in Action, one died of wounds
Company G: Four men Killed In Action
Casualties: Company H
Richard Graham Allen
Raymond Blanchette
Rupert Sadler Carven III
John Jay Edwards
Andrew Lalone Hastings
Klaus Jurgen Herms
Henry James Hooper
William John Hrinko
William Johnson
Lewis Albert Kimmel
Franz Joseph Kolbeck
Vinford Franklyn Michael
Henry Duane Odom
Peter Gary Scavuzzo
Robert Lee Smith Jr.
Charles Robert Wetzel
* A marker was ordered for Sonny and delivered to the wrong cemetery at the Old Donation Church in Virginia Beach where it lay on the ground for forty-four years. With the burial error discovered and LCpl Smith's final resting place confirmed, the marker was moved to it's rightful place where he is at rest.
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Transcribed from the "Daily Press [Newport News, VA], March 9, 1966, page 12
"Cpl. R. L. Smith Killed In Action.
Lance Cpl. Robert L. "Sonny' Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Smith of 236 N. Colony Road, Newport News, was killed in action in Viet Nam Friday, the Defense Department announced.
Cpl. Smith had been serving in Viet Nam since June when he was transferred from Camp Pendleton, Calif. He attended Ferguson High School before enlisting in the Marine Corps on June 19, 1964. He received basic training at Parris Island, S.C., and was stationed at Camp Le Jeune, N.C., before being sent to Camp Pendleton.
He had previously attended Warwick High School. He was born in Newport News July 31, 1945, and lived here all his life. Cpl. Smith was stationed with the 7th Marine Regiment at Chu Lai. He reportedly died of shrapnel wounds received in combat with the enemy in the Quang Ngai area.
Surviving, besides his parents, are three sisters, Mrs. Betty Ann Hurr of Yorktown, Mrs. Judy Montgomery of Grafton and Miss Thelma Kay Smith at home; his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Alice White of Newport News; and his paternal grandmother, Mrs. N. J. Carr of Elkins, W.Va. Funeral arrangements are incomplete. The body will be taken to W. J. Smith and Son Funeral Home on arrival from Viet Nam."
Obit courtesy of Royce E. Hostetler
Robert, "Sonny" as he was affectionately called by his family and friends was the son of Robert A. and Annie M. Smith of Newport News VA. He enlisted in the US Marine Corps on June 19, 1964 in Richmond VA and was serving with Company H, 2d Battalion, 7th Marines, 3d MARDIV (Rein) FMF when the unit engaged NVA forces on Operation UTAH.
On March 4, during Operation UTAH the first wave of Marines were taken under fire but managed to secure the landing zone and begin to move towards their objectives. Advancing in a general easterly direction, the Marines pushed forward for a few hundred meters before that were taken under heavy enemy fire. Company G penetrated the enemy positions in two places but couldn't take advantage of these minor gains because of the lack of reserves. Company H on the right, made some progress until the NVA counterattacked in force. The attack was repulsed with the use of 81 mm mortars on the NVA troops pouring across open rice paddies. The NVA then stuck Company F with a heavy volume of fire; casualties were piling up from the devastating enemy fire for all the Marine units battling the hardened enemy troops they encountered in the open paddies, in the hedgerows and tree lines. The NVA attack was finally repulsed by air strikes, using bombs, rockets and napalm that were dropped on the NVA until the Marines reached their night defensive positions near the hamlet of Chau Nhai.
PFC Smith died as a result of fragmentation wounds from a hostile explosive device, one of forty-four Marine casualties from the 2d Battalion killed in action by the enemy during the battle. Five Marines from Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines were also killed.
Casualties:
H&S Company: Nine men Killed in Action
Company F: Twelve men Killed in Action, one died of wounds
Company G: Four men Killed In Action
Casualties: Company H
Richard Graham Allen
Raymond Blanchette
Rupert Sadler Carven III
John Jay Edwards
Andrew Lalone Hastings
Klaus Jurgen Herms
Henry James Hooper
William John Hrinko
William Johnson
Lewis Albert Kimmel
Franz Joseph Kolbeck
Vinford Franklyn Michael
Henry Duane Odom
Peter Gary Scavuzzo
Robert Lee Smith Jr.
Charles Robert Wetzel
* A marker was ordered for Sonny and delivered to the wrong cemetery at the Old Donation Church in Virginia Beach where it lay on the ground for forty-four years. With the burial error discovered and LCpl Smith's final resting place confirmed, the marker was moved to it's rightful place where he is at rest.
-------------------------------------------------------
Transcribed from the "Daily Press [Newport News, VA], March 9, 1966, page 12
"Cpl. R. L. Smith Killed In Action.
Lance Cpl. Robert L. "Sonny' Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Smith of 236 N. Colony Road, Newport News, was killed in action in Viet Nam Friday, the Defense Department announced.
Cpl. Smith had been serving in Viet Nam since June when he was transferred from Camp Pendleton, Calif. He attended Ferguson High School before enlisting in the Marine Corps on June 19, 1964. He received basic training at Parris Island, S.C., and was stationed at Camp Le Jeune, N.C., before being sent to Camp Pendleton.
He had previously attended Warwick High School. He was born in Newport News July 31, 1945, and lived here all his life. Cpl. Smith was stationed with the 7th Marine Regiment at Chu Lai. He reportedly died of shrapnel wounds received in combat with the enemy in the Quang Ngai area.
Surviving, besides his parents, are three sisters, Mrs. Betty Ann Hurr of Yorktown, Mrs. Judy Montgomery of Grafton and Miss Thelma Kay Smith at home; his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Alice White of Newport News; and his paternal grandmother, Mrs. N. J. Carr of Elkins, W.Va. Funeral arrangements are incomplete. The body will be taken to W. J. Smith and Son Funeral Home on arrival from Viet Nam."
Obit courtesy of Royce E. Hostetler
On March 4, during Operation UTAH the first wave of Marines were taken under fire but managed to secure the landing zone and begin to move towards their objectives. Advancing in a general easterly direction, the Marines pushed forward for a few hundred meters before that were taken under heavy enemy fire. Company G penetrated the enemy positions in two places but couldn't take advantage of these minor gains because of the lack of reserves. Company H on the right, made some progress until the NVA counterattacked in force. The attack was repulsed with the use of 81 mm mortars on the NVA troops pouring across open rice paddies. The NVA then stuck Company F with a heavy volume of fire; casualties were piling up from the devastating enemy fire for all the Marine units battling the hardened enemy troops they encountered in the open paddies, in the hedgerows and tree lines. The NVA attack was finally repulsed by air strikes, using bombs, rockets and napalm that were dropped on the NVA until the Marines reached their night defensive positions near the hamlet of Chau Nhai.
PFC Smith died as a result of fragmentation wounds from a hostile explosive device, one of forty-four Marine casualties from the 2d Battalion killed in action by the enemy during the battle. Five Marines from Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines were also killed.
Casualties:
H&S Company: Nine men Killed in Action
Company F: Twelve men Killed in Action, one died of wounds
Company G: Four men Killed In Action
Casualties: Company H
Richard Graham Allen
Raymond Blanchette
Rupert Sadler Carven III
John Jay Edwards
Andrew Lalone Hastings
Klaus Jurgen Herms
Henry James Hooper
William John Hrinko
William Johnson
Lewis Albert Kimmel
Franz Joseph Kolbeck
Vinford Franklyn Michael
Henry Duane Odom
Peter Gary Scavuzzo
Robert Lee Smith Jr.
Charles Robert Wetzel
* A marker was ordered for Sonny and delivered to the wrong cemetery at the Old Donation Church in Virginia Beach where it lay on the ground for forty-four years. With the burial error discovered and LCpl Smith's final resting place confirmed, the marker was moved to it's rightful place where he is at rest.
-------------------------------------------------------
Transcribed from the "Daily Press [Newport News, VA], March 9, 1966, page 12
"Cpl. R. L. Smith Killed In Action.
Lance Cpl. Robert L. "Sonny' Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Smith of 236 N. Colony Road, Newport News, was killed in action in Viet Nam Friday, the Defense Department announced.
Cpl. Smith had been serving in Viet Nam since June when he was transferred from Camp Pendleton, Calif. He attended Ferguson High School before enlisting in the Marine Corps on June 19, 1964. He received basic training at Parris Island, S.C., and was stationed at Camp Le Jeune, N.C., before being sent to Camp Pendleton.
He had previously attended Warwick High School. He was born in Newport News July 31, 1945, and lived here all his life. Cpl. Smith was stationed with the 7th Marine Regiment at Chu Lai. He reportedly died of shrapnel wounds received in combat with the enemy in the Quang Ngai area.
Surviving, besides his parents, are three sisters, Mrs. Betty Ann Hurr of Yorktown, Mrs. Judy Montgomery of Grafton and Miss Thelma Kay Smith at home; his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Alice White of Newport News; and his paternal grandmother, Mrs. N. J. Carr of Elkins, W.Va. Funeral arrangements are incomplete. The body will be taken to W. J. Smith and Son Funeral Home on arrival from Viet Nam."
Obit courtesy of Royce E. Hostetler
Gravesite Details
Military records list Robert Lee Smith as "Jr" which is incorrect according to family.
