A Tribute: Bobby Ray Gardner
The following information is taken from the "Find A Grave" web site, and was compiled and added to the site by Tom Reese, who has collected information on those individuals from North Carolina who died in Vietnam.
8 August 1967
Sergeant Bobby Ray Gardner
Birth: Apr. 25, 1946, Ahoskie, Hertford County, North Carolina, USA
Death: Aug. 8, 1967, Bin Duong, Vietnam
Sergeant Bobby Ray Gardner was a casualty of the Vietnam War. As a member of the Army Selective Service and a Draftee, SGT Gardner served our country until August 8th, 1967 in Binh Duong, South Vietnam. He was 21 years old and was married. It was reported that Bobby died from an undetermined explosion. His body was recovered. SGT Gardner is on panel 24E, line 090 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. He served our country for less than a year.
Extract from local Newspaper: GARDNER GETS BRONZE STAR POSTHUMOUSLY:
WINTON: The Bronze Star will be awarded posthumously to a 21-year-old Winton man who was killed in Vietnam August 8, just three days after he made Sergeant. The Widow of Sgt Bobby Ray Gardber will receive the decoration at 4 p.m. Saturday at the home of the dead soldiers parents, Mr. and Mrs. James R Gardner of Winton. A former resident of Aulander and employee of Carolina Telephone and Telegraph Company in Ahoskie, Mrs Gardner had been transferred to Tarboro. Lt Joseph H Druelag of Fort Bragg, who made the original notification of Sgt Gardner's death, will make the presentation. Young Gardner had been in service for 10 months. He was sent to Vietnam last March. This article supplied by his sister, Ruth Gardner Roundtree.
Bobby Ray Gardner was my cousin. He was a very special person, not just a cousin. We went through school together with his twin sister Gladys. Poor Bobby, he stood no chance at all with the two of us. He was kind of shy but funny all in one. He could draw and paint so pretty. He would do some of the prettiest board work in our classroom and I would make him so mad at me. I would put my name on it. The sweet thing never did stay mad at me. He was no dummy, having a girl mad at him, laughing. Bobby, was so loved by us all and when he got killed I thought I would die. A big piece of my heart was buried with him. There is a quote someone said; "A man is not dead until he is forgotten", and this man never will be forgotten. Judy Borum.
School Mate: He Graduated from Ahoskie High School in 1965 in Ahoskie, NC. He was a great guy. He was my friend. Thanks for being my friend in school Bobby. Bobby was my good friend in High School and was a very athletic young man. He could do over 100 sit ups and keep on going. I made sure your funeral was carried out as you would have wanted. Gregory Overton, Cary, NC
In Loving Memory Of My Brother Bobby Gardner. Although it has been 40 years since you left us. You are still loved and thought of with each passing day. I will always cherish my memories I have of us growing up and all the letters you wrote me while you were overseas fighting for our country. I love You and I Miss You !!!!!!! Your Sister, Ruth Gardner Rountree, Eure N.C.
SERVICES FOR BOBBY RAY GARDNER: AHOSKIE:
Funeral services were conducted at the Millenium Pentecostal Holiness Church at 4 p.m. Wednesday for Army Specialist 4 Bobby Ray Gardner, 21, in died in Viet Nam August 8th of war injuries. He had just returned to his unit from following a Hawaiian Vacation with his wife, the former Lorriane Brittenham of Aulander. The Reverend Thad White and the Reverend Raymond Potter conducted the funeral services and burial was in Highland Memorial Gardensm with full Military Honors. Young Gardner was a native of Hertford County and the son of Mr and Mrs J.E.Gardner of Winton. He was a member of the Winton Baptist Church. He had been in the Army 10 months, the past five in Vietnam Service. Survivors include two brothers, Jesse Donald Gardner of Winton, and Earl H Gardner of Portsmouth; and three sisters, Mrs Glady B Ward, Kathryn Ruth Gardner, and Carolyn Luise Gardner all of Winton.
He was the husband of Lorriane Gardner, 724 Farritt Street, Ahoskie, NC.
He served with Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment,'Golden Dragons', 25th Infantry Division, 'Tropic Lightning', USARV.
He was awarded The Combat Infantryman's Badge (CIB), The Bronze Star Medal for Bravery, Two Purple Heart Medals for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
2/14th First Person Accounts: A Tribute: Bobby Ray Gardner
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Last modified: May 19, 2011
