Lt. Robert K. Henderson Jr. was one of the men of A Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry missing from the Oct. 20 Presidential Unit Citation ceremony at the White House.
He died June 20, 1970, in Cambodia, nearly three months after his unit rescued a 100-man infantry company trapped by a seasoned North Vietnamese regiment sheltered in a large, fortified bunker complex.
It was this “extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry against an armed enemy” nearly 40 years ago that resulted in A Troop receiving the highest honor a military unit can earn.
Representing Lt. Henderson at the Rose Garden ceremony, where President Barack Obama spoke and presented the Presidential Unit Citation, was Ann Ragan, his Independence sister.
“It was an event I will always remember ... and tremble at its significance,” she says of that memorable day in the nation’s capital, where she also received her brother’s Presidential Unit Citation ribbon later that day in a Pentagon ceremony.
“These men (of Troop A) were baptized by fire, and they never heard the praise they so deserved from our nation and society.”
Ann credits Capt. John Poindexter, Troop A commander, for his personal campaign to see that his men were recognized individually and as a unit.
Because of his efforts, Ann’s brother was posthumously awarded the Silver Star four years ago at an 11th Cavalry reunion in Kansas City. The Silver Star is the third highest military award designated solely for heroism in combat.
Lt. Henderson was shot in the leg while helping to remove the dead and the wounded from the combat zone and transporting them to the base camp.
In talking with the men of Troop A at the ceremony, Ann gleaned a lot of things about her brother she was hearing for the first time. But the story that brought her the most comfort was from Lowell “Wally” Walburn, who was with her brother during the March 26 battle and also when he was killed on June 19.
The man with the “magnificent mustache” told her in a gentle and respectful way that her brother had been directing the men in the 3rd Platoon as they carried out their mission when a sniper’s bullet struck him in the heart.
“In some way, his story eased my fear that Robin (her brother’s nickname) had been lying wounded and suffering until the North Vietnamese found him and killed him.”
Another heart-wrenching story came from the lips of Raymond Tarr, who credits Ann’s brother with rescuing him in Cambodia and saving his life after he was “shot to pieces” and left bleeding to death with his right eye entirely out of its socket.
When life appeared hopeless, Raymond saw a glimmer of hope – his “brave lieutenant” running up the path toward him. He placed him on an Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle, which took him to a safer place. There he was helicoptered to a field hospital.
For Raymond, his story might not have had a happy ending had the cross-fire in the landing area prevented the rescue copter from landing safely and evacuating him. Raymond’s life, though, was saved when the copter pilot obeyed his unit commander’s order to land – despite the gunfire on the ground – and to transport his severly wounded patient to the field hospital. Raymond learned later the pilot was recognized for his bravery in successfully carrying out this mission.
Then there were the men lower in rank under Henderson’s command. Ann says most seemed apologetic they didn’t know him personally, as they were not allowed to socialize with officers. However, all stated they really respected Henderson because he seemed to know when there was danger and took care of them.
Looking back at the Washington activities, Ann says the Lord looked after all the men in Troop A and family members in attendance.
“He gave us beautiful weather. It was sunny outside, and there was one bush (in the Rose Garden) left with flowers on it.”
Although not sure she would be enamored by President Obama, Ann says she was impressed by his “wonderful speech,” which she says was emotional and caused some veterans to cry.
As for Ann, she felt very humble to represent her brother. However, it was the men of Troop A she chose to honor.
“I felt like their big sister,” she says, recalling that two nights before she left for Washington, she dreamed she met a man she didn’t know and felt compelled to tell him his true worth.
Ann went to Washington not knowing what this dream meant. But once there, she realized these men had been ignored, shamed and called “baby killers” over the years.
“My mission was letting them know they were my heroes.”
And she did.
Why so long to recognize the heroic efforts of the men of Troop A?
Because the daylong firefight in the Vietnam jungle on March 26 was never given a name. It later became known as the “Anonymous Battle.”
But the “Anonymous Battle” is no longer forgotten, thanks to a book Capt. Poindexter wrote by the same name. His book heralds the heroic efforts of the men of Troop A, who defied all odds by routing the entrenched North Vietnamese out of their well-fortified, underground bunkers and saving the men of Charlie Company, an airmobile unit of the 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, whose men were facing imminent death or capture as their losses mounted and supplies ran low.
To the “grunts” and “troopers” who participated in this epic battle and miraculous rescue, America owes its thanks to you.
May we never forget your heroic efforts. All of you can rest assured that you are American heroes in every sense of the world.
God bless you all.
