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Robert Bryant Hamblett
Lance Corporal
3RD PLT, D CO, 1ST BN, 7TH MARINES, 1ST MARDIV, III MAF United States Marine Corps Roanoke, Virginia March 13, 1950 to November 12, 1969 ROBERT B HAMBLETT is on the Wall at Panel W16, Line 64 |
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Robert, soon to be 30 years 'bro.
Just want to say that I'll never forget.
Your cousin, 22 Mar 2006
Robert,
Sad cause we never would know,
I remember when life was wrapped in child-like wonder,
When all we could do was dream,
But then the 'Nam called you and we were forgotten, From his cousin, Kathryn Carr vawolflvr@yahoo.com |
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Robert joined 3rd Platoon, Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines on February 16, 1969. At the time I was the Squad Leader,1st Squad. Robert was a replacement for one of the two Gunners we'd lost in battle two days prior - Larry Looby and Michael Wyman. I remember Robert as a good Marine. He was soft spoken and like the rest of us did his job well. In the late Fall of 1969, November 12 to be exact, Robert along with Ralph Dias was killed while engaging the enemy in fierce combat in the Que Son Mountains. We, the survivors who fought and served along side Robert, must never let his memory fade.
From a Platoon Mate, |
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This is Robert Bryant Hamblett's youngest sister. I am here to pay respect to my big brother, the boy I played with as a young child and the man I have learned to respect all of my adult years. This is for you, Robert - I am saving all of my kisses for you until we meet again. You are always in my heart my prayers and my dreams. Not a day goes by that you not in my heart.
Love from your little sister, 13 Mar 2004 Hi Robert, just want to let you know I wish you a very happy birthday. I can't believe you would be 54 - Wow! Mom lit a candle for you today ... she's a little down. If any way possible put a little warm feeling in her heart today. Let her know you are fine. She misses you so much as we all do. Robert, I love you. Hey you and Dad take care of each other. I'll see you two again someday GOD willing. You are always in my prayers and heart.
Love for always, |
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Robert, I have never been able to call you Bob, as you called yourself when you arrived in Vietnam. I miss you still and will always. Though it has been 35 years, your death still haunts me. Robert, I long to see you so much it hurts. I will see you again one day, brother, and it will be a fine day indeed. Love and miss you. Mark
PS Semper Fi
12 Nov 2007 Robert, Thirty-eight years today and the tears still fall, so sad. You were and always will be my hero. I love you and miss you and will never stop thinking of you. I know one day we will meet again and it will be a joyous day. Please look down on my son, your namesake, and help him as he makes his way through this messed-up world. He has the burden of having a father that is haunted by the past and has little patience with anything. Please look on him as you looked on me, with love and kindness.
Semper Fi, bro, From his brother, Mark Hamblett hamblett@bellsouth.net |
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From his brother, |
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Entering my twilight years has led me to reflecting back on all the people who have come and gone in my life. Wondering where they are now and what paths they have taken. Sitting at my desk on a Friday afternoon, looking at photos on my bulletin board. There's my nephew, Richard, all grown up and handsome in his Air Force uniform. He served a short stint in Iraq ... will be returning to Iraq in the Fall. Out of the blue, the name Robert Hamblett skids into my mind. Not sure why. I type his name into the search window of my PC, and there he is. A young, handsome Marine. I haven't shed such tears since the death of my mother last year. Seeing Robert's picture broke my heart. Suddenly, I realize that my loss was a maturational loss - to be expected in my adulthood. Reading the messages to Robert, I understood the enormity of the Hamblett family's loss. Their loss was unexpected - a life cut short in its prime. As a mother, I can now imagine Helen's pain. Robert served during an era when soldiers never knew where they stood with the citizens of the country they were fighting for or the citizens of the country they represented. How unfair we were to them. Forever a pacifist, I have come to realize that conflict among the human race is inevitable ... it's in our nature. In my line of work, I have seen the after-affects of parents harming their own children. I still don't understand the violence, but I am realistic enough to know it exists. So, I would like to now say thank you to Robert B. Hamblett, and to Richard and Heather and LeeAnn and the thousands of other young men and women who have taken it upon themselves to defend America, to keep us safe and free. And I wish peace and solace to Larry, my first love, and Kathy, my good friend, and to the entire Hamblett family. I hope all is well with you.
From an acquaintance, |
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Hey Robert, it's me, Marsha. There is not one day that goes by that I don't think about you and dad. I hope you two are having the best time up there. My memories of you are all good. I don't think there ever was a better brother or man than you. Remember when you and Susan took Terri and me out to a fair, I believe, and bought us boats? I wish I still had it. Didn't have a lot of time with you, I was only 9 when you died, but I still remember your face like I am looking at it at this very moment. Sorry it took so long to write but I didn't know this website existed. I was thinking of you and took a shot with your name in Google. Wow! I hope you get all of these messages from all of us. I know you do, say hi to dad and let him know that we all miss you guys a great deal but we know we'll all be together one day. Mom is good - still cries a lot ... guess that's why we are all emotional also. It's cool I guess I'd rather have too much feeling than not enough. Us kids have never been the same though. We kinda spread out all over the place when we could. Guess when we are together all the hard stuff comes back. But I believe we all know that we love each other. I'll hit you up soon.
Love you forever, 14 Nov 2006
Well, it has been 37 years since you left us. So hard to believe. Love ya 4ever. Marsha
From his sister, Marsha Hamblett Johns marshajohns@kendixon.com |
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Bob and I and another recruit named David Arnott became friends during basic training at Parris Island. The friendship continued as we went through infantry training and staging before leaving for Vietnam on the same flight in February 1969. We three were separated finally after arriving in Danang when we were posted to different units. The training regimen had been pretty brutal, but having two such good friends to hang out with and go on liberty with over those months made it easier to bear. Dave died in a mortar attack barely a month after our arrival in Vietnam. I last saw Bob that August when our units happened to cross paths in the bush. We had the opportunity to chat for a few minutes before the order came to move out. Then, I got the news in December that Bob had been killed also. I am so pleased to see Bob remembered here by those who knew him and I wanted them to know that an old friend remembers and misses him also. I have thought of him and Dave so many times over the years and will always miss them.
From a fellow Marine, From The Virtual Wall: Pfc David B. Arnott, Delta 1/5 Marines, arrived in-country on 16 Feb 1969. He was one of 15 Marines and sailors killed at the Liberty Bridge on 19 March 1969. |
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I want to let all family members and loved ones know that I will always honor Robert's sacrifice on that November day. I knew Robert and respected his courage. I was flown out the following morning with Robert, Ralph, Carl and Jerome. They will always be in my heart.
Semper Fi |
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I graduated with Robert from Roanoke Catholic High School in 1968 - absolutely adored him. We had a multi-year high school reunion last week at Saint Andrews and we all were talking about him and how much we missed him. John Bullard, Paul Huff, Bill Humphreys, Bonnie Patillo, Michele Ragoni, Michael Campbell and I were among 15 of his classmates who toasted him with a glass of wine and wished he was with us. Thank you for his memorial on The Virtual Wall and know that none of us have ever forgotten him or the thousands who died as a result of being in Vietnam.
From a high school friend, |
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Dear Uncle Robert, Although I have never met you I am also deeply saddened by your untimely loss. I feel very bad for my dad when he is sad on your date of death, November 13. Even though you were only 19, I know that you did great things for this country despite the fact that I am against wars that do not need to be fought like Vietnam. All in all, Uncle Robert, I just want to say that I miss you and love you very much.
LOVE, |
A Note from The Virtual WallOn 12 November 1969 a patrol from 3rd Platoon, Delta 1/7 Marines encountered a dug-in NVA company on the north-facing slopes of the Que Son Mountains south of An Hoa. The Marines were caught in the open and were pinned in place by mortar and machinegun fire, taking cover in bomb craters and amongst the stubble of dry rice paddies. Air support was called in to help the infantrymen.The infantrymen were able to break contact, but one of the supporting Cobra gunships was shot down and four of the infantrymen were killed by hostile fire. The six men killed were
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