Service Details
Rank
Specialist Five
Branch
Army
Years of Service
1966-1969
Decorations
Bronze Star (merit), Purple Heart, National Defense, Vietnam Service, and Vietnam Campaign medals
Pledge Class
1965
Their Story
Robert Leon Willey was born 19Jul1947 in Grangeville, ID. During his childhood years in Grangeville and throughout high school, he was known as Robin. Robin graduated from Grangeville High School in 1965. That fall he entered college at the University of Idaho and pledged Delta Sigma Phi - Gamma Iota fraternity.
Robin, now known as Rob, went home on Christmas break with the intent of returning to the U of I for the winter semester. Unfortunately, by 1966 the Vietnam War was in full swing with approximately 350,000 soldiers already in-country and the US Army looking for even more to either enlist or be drafted. Rob decided he would answer the call by joining the US Army and put college on hold until his enlistment was complete.
Rob received training in the Army as a surveyor and was assigned to various engineering battalions before being sent to Vietnam. On 26Apr1968, Rob's unit was sent to Vietnam for a 12 month overseas tour which would end on 26Apr1969. The unit's mission was to do preliminary survey work on highway QL 1 near Qui Nhon, Vietnam.
On the morning of 26Mar1969, Rob and 3 others made their way to the small village of Song Cau to continue surveying the QL 1 highway. The day before, the area had been cleared of mines by US Army engineers, but unbeknownst to the survey crew, the Viet Cong had re-mined the area during the night with anti-personnel mines known as "Bouncing Betties".
A mine was tripped by one of the members of the survey crew. That individual was killed instantly. Two other members received nonlife-threatening wounds, and Rob received serious wounds. Rob was transported to a hospital in Japan.
Rob's parents in Grangeville were informed of the incident and they flew to Japan to be with their son. Rob had been in serious condition for 6 weeks, however, the doctors thought he was stable enough such that his parents could take a short break and see some of the local sights. Unfortunately, before they could return, Rob died on 10 May1969. He was 21 years old. He is buried at Prairie View Cemetery in Grangeville, ID.
Brother Wiley enlisted prior to being initiated in 1966. Our National office posthumously initiated him in March of 2020.
YITBOS
Vaughn Wasem PC 70