Heroes…
A wartime hero is someone who demonstrates exceptional leadership and bravery while serving their country in times of conflict, often putting their own safety at risk to protect the lives of others. During my second tour to Vietnam, in August 1969, I was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile). Right away, I was sent to the 1st Brigade, commanded by COL Frank Dietrich, a legendary figure in the airborne infantry community, having received the Silver Star as a SSGT during WWII and a second Silver Star as a 1LT in the Korean War. Later, while serving his first tour in Vietnam as a battalion commander, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Now on his second tour in Vietnam, COL Dietrich was commanding the 1st Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division, engaged in combat operations in the lowlands and the mountainous jungle areas of Thua Thien Province. As one of his infantry battalion S3s (1-327 IN), I came to believe that there was no one more versed in Army small unit tactics at the squad and platoon levels. COL Dietrich did not care about the Brigade looking good to higher headquarters. He cared most about his soldiers being trained and ready to fight. Over the next six months, I had the opportunity to be with COL Dietrich in an open helicopter on numerous occasions. I know this sounds crazy, but what amazed me most was his ability to flawlessly role his own cigarette and light it, with a 70-knot wind in his face. The man could do it all!
I was a combat writer and photographer for the 101st Airborne Division (Ambl), 2nd Brigade, 1970-71. And everyone I met was a hero in his/her own right. So I can’t name just one. This is not limited to just 2nd Brigade. Every American in Vietnam, every Man or Woman in the Military, is a hero to someone, somewhere, past, present and future.
Craig Latham
Craig, you are absolutely correct. Thank you for your wise words.
Robert L. Powell
AWARDS BY DATE OF ACTION:1 of 1
Silver Star
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING Vietnam War
Service: Army
Rank: Captain
Battalion: 1st Battalion (Airborne)
GENERAL ORDERS:
Headquarters, I Field Force Vietnam, General Orders No. 883 (December 2, 1968)
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Infantry) Robert L. Powell (ASN: OF-104232), United States Army, for gallantry in action Captain Powell distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam on 27 September 1968, while serving as Company Commander of Company C, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry Regiment, 173d Infantry Brigade (Separate). On this day, Company C began receiving a heavy volume of small arms fire from a North Vietnamese Army battalion-sized base camp, southwest of Landing Zone UPLIFT. Captain Powell immediately deployed the company against the enemy positions. He moved forward to the heaviest point of contact to enable him to maneuver the company more effectively. While moving through the intense enemy fire, he was wounded in the hip by an enemy machine gun. He refused medical treatment and continued moving forward until he found an advantageous position from which he could direct the company. When casualties began to mount, he ordered that the wounded be removed from the area and a defensive perimeter be formed. He then remained behind to provide covering fire for the withdrawal. When all but a few wounded had been withdrawn, he moved through the heavy exchange of fire to a critically wounded man, despite his own weakened state due to the loss of blood. As he attempted to move the injured soldier to safety, he was wounded again in the side and hip, but still managed to pull the man to safety. Seeing that the perimeter was formed he began calling for artillery and air strikes which he accurately directed upon the enemy base camp. Despite the seriousness of his condition and great loss of blood, Captain Powell refused medical attention until all the other wounded had been treated. His heroic actions and determination to rout the enemy greatly inspired his men. Captain Powell’s extraordinary heroism was in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Charles Wahlquist
My father made 2 combat jumps in Korean.war with the 187 Airborne Combat infantry when he was 18 ..Purple heart Bronze Star and CIB there ..Vietnam with the 101st Airborne combat infantry 1965 -1968
Diana Robertson
Diana, your father was a real Hero. Two combat jumps is an amazing achievement. Thank you for your posting.
LTG Grange has a similar resume.
Bryan Ludasher
Absolutely correct Bryan. What an amazing generation of warfighters! AATW!, RLTW!
Frank and Alice Dietrich were truly awesome people. Truly enjoyed hearing their recollections when I commanded the 504 PIR. Colonel Dietrich signed every note with “Shoot Low!”
Leo A. Brooks, Jr.
Leo, Thank you for posting…another interesting data point to an intriguing military leader. I hope all is well with you, AATW!, Strike Hold, & Shoot Low!
solid soldier. He was the post commander at Ft Stewart when we formed 1-75 Rangers. He understood grunt. As an aside, he told us one night at the O Club how he ran across one of the Market-Garden Bridges pulling the German det wire up and cutting it with a bayonet when he discovered that he was the lead element of the 101st at that spot and was running straight into their defensive positions. Our sort of guy.
Keith Nightingale
My heroes are all the Vietnamese and American Veterans who fought, wounded and died for the Republic of Vietnam and America 🙏
Duy Huynh
LTG (ret) Hank Emerson called himself Gunslinger too, I believe. No?
my Godfather LTG (ret)Tom Rienzi, RIP, talked about him as WP cadets and as soldier/leader…
BTW, I served under Emerson in Camp Casey and Ft. Bragg as a brand new soldier…
Be safe General.
S. Vincent Shin
MG (R) Weldon “Tiger” Honeycutt, if you know, you know. ⛩ Justin Wright & John Petree
Martin Jeremy Bowling
Wow! He sounds a true leader and warrior! I loved being stationed at the 101st. 2/502nd Strike Force
Michael Jackson
Strike Force! AATW!
He would have made a great Marine!
Richard McKearney
As much as we look different on the outside, our heart & souls are the same on the inside. Semper Fi, AATW!, Jim
Agree, he was also a great Honorary Colonel of the 504th PIR when I was privileged to be Devil 6. In fact, he would schedule his chemo treatments around our regimental events.
We had a wonderful correspondence over the subsequent years, with him always signing off by writing, “Shoot low.”
When I was Eagle 6, we named the marksmanship facility for him at Fort Campbell and noted his admonition about shooting low!
ATW – Dave
General David H. Petraeus, U.S. Army (Retired)
Dave, thank you for sharing this in the post. It is amazing how he had such a great impact on so many leaders at various points in our careers. Great job preserving his legacy by having the FCKY marksmanship facility named for him! Shoot Low!!
AASLT!, AATW!, Jim
Thank you for this amazing story, General Johnson. I had the honor to serve under you in the 82nd. You were a great leader and you inspired the troops. A co. 1/504. Airborne All the Way!
Tony Guminski
Tony, thank you for your kind words. I was honored to serve with the greatest Paratroopers in the world. Thank you for being part of that. AATW!!
They broke the mold when they made him
Dewey Yopp