Memorial Day is for remembering those who lost their lives while serving in the military.

In the Vietnam conflict, Richmond lost 32 young men. Most were young, ages 18-21.  Four were African American, and four had Hispanic surnames. Six were married. I don’t know how many of their families or friends still live in Richmond.

Today, we honor Robert Antonio Reyes, who was born December 18, 1948, and served in Vietnam from December 4, 1967 until he was killed in action less than two months later on February 2, 1968, at the age of 19, during the Tet Offensive. Robert was the oldest of five children. He attended St. John the Baptist Grammar School, in El Cerrito, California, then graduated from Salesian High School in Richmond, California on June 3, 1967.


ROBERT ANTONIO REYES - Army - PFC - E3
Age: 19
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth Dec 19, 1948
From: RICHMOND, CA
Religion: ROMAN CATHOLIC
Marital Status: Single - Parents: Father, Antonio Reyes and Mother, Eva (Reyes) Terrazas - Remarried, both of Richmond, CA. He has NO children.

*** IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY SON
Robert was the oldest of five children. He attended St. JOHN the Baptist Grammar School, in El Cerrito, California, then graduated from Salesian High School in Richmond, California on June 3rd 1967. He volunteered to join the Military Service in June 26,1967 to get his education, travel and help his brother and sisters financially. Robert was a very religious young man who never missed confession, communion nor Sunday Mass. He was a very friendly, conscientious young man, concerned about his family. When Robert was in High School and was given money to go out with his friends he used the money to take out his little brother and sister so his mother could have some time off. When he was in the WAR Zone he wrote and said, he could not see at night. He kept falling in the fox holes because of his night blindness and his Buddies had to help him out. IF ANYONE OF YOU EVER HELPED MY SON AND ARE READING THIS, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!
Sunday, May 28, 2000
Eva Terrazas / Reyes - CRBETTYBOOP@aol.com
MOTHER
5110 Lee Place NW
Albuquerque, N.M. 87114

PFC - E3 - Army - 9th Infantry Division
Length of service 0 years
His tour began on Dec 4, 1967
Casualty was on Feb 2, 1968
MILITARY DATA:
Service: Army of the United States
Grade at loss: E3
Rank: Private First Class
ID No: 18916615
MOS: 11B10: Infantryman
Length Service: 00
Unit: B CO, 2ND BN, 60TH INFANTRY, 9TH INF DIV, USARV

CASUALTY DATA:
Start Tour: 12/04/1967
Incident Date: 02/02/1968
Casualty Date: 02/02/1968
Age at Loss: 19
Location: Kien Hoa Province, South Vietnam
Remains: Body recovered
Casualty Type: Hostile, died while missing
Casualty Reason: Ground casualty
Casualty Detail: Gun or small arms fire

In KIEN HOA, SOUTH VIETNAM
Hostile, died while missing, GROUND CASUALTY
GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE

Body was recovered
Panel 36E - Line 77

On February 2, 1968 PFC Robert Antonio Reyes, at the age of 19 years old, became a ground casualty.

Ben Tre City, about 12 kilometers south of My Tho, was captured by the VC at the outbreak of the Tet Offensive.

Bravo Company, 2/60 Infantry, was directed to recapture the city. They did so, but only after a bloody fight that killed Americans, VC, and civilians alike and which destroyed much of the town itself. The American dead were

2LT Kenneth E. Golden, Youngstown, OH
SP4 Irvin Brown, Mount Pleasant, SC
CPL Vincent P. Landon, Detroit, MI
CPL Eloy F. Le Blanc, San Francisco, CA
CPL Roy L. Phillips, Chicago, IL
SP4 Jack P. Wilson, Burbank, CA
PFC Charles J. Bauer, Long Island City, NY
PFC Fred W. Jansonius, Jamestown, ND
PFC Ralph A. Keating, Caledonia, MI
PFC Robert A. Reyes, Richmond, CA
PFC Selmer E. Salveson, St Paul, MN
PFC Paul A. Stender, Skokie, IL

PFC Robert Antonio Reyes was in the battle of Ben Tre.

As part of the Tet Offensive the VC seized control of Ben Tre City in Kien Hoa Province in the eastern central Mekong Delta.

This area was normally the TAOR of the 2nd. or Riverine Brigade. However, tactical necessities required the 3rd. Brigade to assist in Kien Hoa province. During 1st. the 3/39 Inf was air assaulted into the city to clear the north bank of the Mekong.

In the words of one of the officers, much of the city was already burning rubble from the bombs, mortar rounds and artillery. On the morning of Feb 2,1968 the 2/60th. was air assaulted into Ben Tre to assist the 3/39th.

The plan was to assault across the bridge into the heart of the city. B 2/60th. was assigned to lead the way and fight across the bridge and into the city.

Snipers began firing when the US forces got within several blocks of the bridge, then the VC began dropping in mortar rounds. The company did fight its way into the central city and helped secure it. The 3/39th and the 2/60th. and airstrikes combined for 150 VC KIA in the 2 days of action.

PFC Robert Antonio Reyes is one of 13 men who made the Wall that day and Bravo Company 2/60th. won the U.S. Valorous Unit Award.

Click on the names below for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial descriptions of other Richmond residents killed in Vietnam: