Robert M. Landry
Captain, U.S. Army

In January 1968, then-First Lieutenant Robert M. Landry was serving with Company D, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 196th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division, in South Vietnam.

On 8-9 January, 1LT Landry's Company D was in pursuit of a group of North Vietnamese Army (NVA) soldiers when it came under heavy mortar, automatic weapons and small arms fire. 1LT Landry regrouped his scattered troops and then went forward alone to reconnoiter the area. Finding no suitable avenue of attack against the enemy, he began to withdraw his men. As they maneuvered toward the company command post, he spotted a sizeable enemy force penetrating deep into the company's flank. After directing his troops to cover, he called in artillery strikes and directed them until the aggressors were dispersed. He then reorganized his men and proceeded to the command post. The commanding officer of Company D had been killed in the attack, so 1LT Landry reorganized the company and secured a landing zone for an evacuation helicopter. Personally directing mortar fire and his maneuver elements, he repeatedly exposed himself to intense hostile fire to supervise the evacuation of his wounded. His unit then joined forces with another company for an assault on the enemy positions. As they attacked, the NVA troops opened fire with mortars, automatic weapons, and small arms. 1LT Landry ordered his men to withdraw while he remained in his position to relay changes in artillery deflection to the forward observer. He returned to his unit only after both companies had safely reached their defensive positions. On the morning on 9 January, 1LT Landry was in charge of a reserve force. Two sister companies came under intensive enemy fire, and one sustained heavy casualties on its left flank. He maneuvered his troops across an open rice paddy, plugged the gap in the unit's flank, and drove the attackers back. Exposing himself to a continuing hostile barrage, he directed supporting fires until the battered company had safely broken all contact. Despite the concentrated fire directed at him, 1LT Landry held his position until both sister companies had established defensive positions and all his own men had withdrawn. His leadership sustained the integrity of his unit throughout 24 hours of sustained heavy combat. 1LT Landry's extraordinary heroism earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal (Merit)
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge

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 pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Robert M. Landry (ASN: 0-5336519), 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 Company D, 3d Battalion, 21st Infantry, 196th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. First Lieutenant Landry distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 8 and 9 January 1968. While in pursuit of a group of North Vietnamese Army soldiers, his company came under heavy mortar, automatic weapons and small arms fire. Lieutenant Landry immediately regrouped his scattered troops, and then went forward alone to reconnoiter the area. Finding no suitable avenue of attack against the enemy, he began to withdraw his men. As they maneuvered toward the company command post, he spotted a sizeable enemy force penetrating deep into the company's flank. After directing his troops to cover, he called in artillery strikes and directed them until the aggressors were dispersed. He then reorganized his men and proceeded to the command post. The commanding officer had been killed in the attack, and Lieutenant Landry reorganized the company and secured a landing zone for an evacuation helicopter. Personally directing mortar fire and his maneuver elements, he repeatedly exposed himself to intense hostile fire to supervise the evacuation of his wounded. His unit next joined forces with another company for an assault on the enemy positions. As they attacked, the North Vietnamese opened fire with mortars, automatic weapons, and small arms. Lieutenant Landry ordered his men to withdraw while he stayed in his position, relaying changes in artillery deflection to the forward observer. He returned to his unit only after both companies had safely reached their defensive positions. On the morning on 9 January, Lieutenant Landry was in charge of a reserve force. Two sister companies came under intensive enemy fire, and one sustained heavy casualties on its left flank. He maneuvered his troops across an open rice paddy, plugged the gap in the unit's flank, and drove the attackers back. Constantly exposing himself to a continuing hostile barrage, he directed supporting fires until the battered company had safely broken all contact. Despite concentrated fire directed at him, Lieutenant Landry held his position until both sister companies had established defensive positions and all his own men had withdrawn. Through his leadership he maintained the integrity of his unit throughout the twenty-four hours of sustained heavy combat. First Lieutenant Landry's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty 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. 4340 (September 12, 1968)

Death and Burial

Captain Robert M. Landry died on 5 January 2015 in Kennesaw, GA. He is inurned at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, Cherokee County, GA, in Column 19, Row D, Site 18.

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