Tuesday, November 10, 2015

MIA Robert Gumbert to be honored

The only Clermont County MIA from the Vietnam War Robert William Gumbert, Jr. To be honored at New Richmond High School Veterans Day 2015 Wednesday, November 11, at 1:30 p.m.

Former New Richmond High School Class of 1967 graduate, Robert William Gumbert Jr., will be honored on Veterans Day in the same gymnasium where he graduated almost 50 years ago. In attendance will be his father, Robert William Gumbert of New Richmond, Ohio. Robert Jr’s mother is no longer living.

 PFC Robert W. Gumbert Jr. was the oldest of 10 children born to Robert and Geneva Gumbert. He graduated from New Richmond High School in 1967 and was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War. On June 22, 1970 PFC Robert W. Gumbert was killed in action; body not recovered. He is the only Clermont County MIA (Missing in Action) from the Vietnam War.

SYNOPSIS: At 0700 hours on June 22, 1970, PFC Robert W. Gumbert was walking point for his squad on a combat mission in South Vietnam. The unit was operating in Quang Ngai Province near the border of Binh Dinh Province, near the coastline of South Vietnam about 10 miles south of the city of Mo Duc, and about 3 miles east of Duc Pho.

While Gumbert was moving through a hedgerow area, an explosive device detonated along the southern edge of the hedgerow at Gumbert's position. The explosion created a crater 4 1/2' deep and 12 feet wide. The two men, SP4 Gary L. Peat and SP4 Joseph M. Turowski Jr., were killed, with SP4 Peat, who was just behind PFC Gumbert, being dismembered.


PFC Robert W. Gumbert Jr. is listed on the national Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. His name is located on Panel 09W (West), Row 79. Through the work of the Clermont County Vietnam Veterans, Tim Roth of Roth Monuments in Newport, Kentucky and State Representative Jean Schmidt, a monument was dedicated in 2010 at Arlington National Cemetery, Section MK, Site 320 in honor of PFC Robert W. Gumbert Jr. of New Richmond, Ohio.

Cliff Riley, Ohio State Commander for the Vietnam Veterans of America and recipient of the highest national award of the Vietnam Veterans of America will be the main speaker at this year’s event.

Tom Mitchell, HONOR AND REMEMBER Ohio Chapter Director, will be presenting the HONOR AND REMEMBER flag to Mr. Gumbert. The mission of HONOR AND REMEMBER is to create and promote a nationally recognized emblem to remind all Americans of the lives lost in defense of our national freedoms.

New Richmond High School has a Veterans Day Program every year to honor our nation’s heroes from all branches of service. Veterans from WWII to our current war will be in attendance. High School Principal, Mark Bailey, believes it is important to honor our veterans and allow students the opportunity to meet them and hear first hand their stories. Previous speakers at the New Richmond High School Veterans Day Program have been U. S. Representative and Army Reserve officer, Brad Wenstrup and Staff Sergeant Paul Brondhaver, wounded Iraq Veteran from New Richmond, Ohio.

The program is open to veterans and friends of the Gumbert Family. For more information, contact Regina Herbolt at (513) 207-2983. -- http://www.vva649.org/