Robert Michael Snell
Captain, U.S. Army

On 14 June 1969, Captain Robert Michael Snell was serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 320th Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, in South Vietnam.

On that day, CPT Snell was serving as an artillery liaison officer to the 327th Infantry. In the early morning hours, an intense mortar attack followed by a ground assault was launched against Fire Support Base Berchtesgaden. When the first enemy rounds hit, several personnel were injured and in need of immediate medical attention. CPT Snell moved 50 meters from his protected bunker through heavy enemy mortar fire to assist the wounded. He carried 1 wounded soldier back to the safety of the bunker and was going out the bunker door to retrieve another man when a round impacted at his feet and mortally wounded him. CPT Snell's selfless action for his fellow soldiers saved the life of the man he had carried to safety. CPT Snell's extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals and Awards

Distinguished Service Cross
Bronze Star Medal (Merit) with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Purple Heart
Army Commendation Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Captain (Field Artillery) Robert Michael Snell, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2d Battalion, 320th Artillery, 101st Airborne Division. Captain Snell distinguished himself on 14 June 1969 while serving as an artillery liaison officer to the 327th Infantry. In the early morning hours, an intense mortar attack followed by a ground assault was launched against Fire Support Base Berchtesgaden. When the first enemy rounds hit, several personnel were injured and in need of immediate medical attention. Captain Snell, with complete disregard for his own safety, moved fifty meters from his protected bunker through the heavy volume of enemy mortar fire to assist the wounded. He carried one wounded soldier back to the safety of the bunker and was going out the bunker door to retrieve another man when a round impacted at his feet and mortally wounded him. Captain Snell's unselfish dedication to his fellow soldiers was directly responsible for saving the life of the man he had carried to safety. Captain Snell's extraordinary heroism and dedication to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 166 (January 19, 1970)

Honors

The name Robert M Snell is located on Panel 22W Line 49 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

Captain Robert Michael Snell is buried at the United States Military Academy Post Cemetery in West Point, Orange County, NY, in Section 34, Row C, Grave 121.