Hubbard Don Cobb

The database page for Hubbard Don Cobb

15 Mar 2004 Don was a career soldier from Odessa, Texas, an oilfield city near New Mexico. He was in his third enlistment when he was killed by an explosive device in January 1968. He was a platoon sergeant. He is remembered on the Permian Basin Vietnam Memorial located at Midland International Airport, Midland, Texas and by the the Ector County Vietnam Memorial. May his sacrifice not be forgotten. 27 Jul 2006 After researching Don for the past few years, his cousin, Ray Strange of Odessa gave me a copy of this picture which we restored. H. Don was born in Athens, Texas and grew up in the oilfields of East Texas, West Texas and Eastern New Mexico. He was an only child, entered the Army at age 17 from Odessa, Texas when he became disillusioned with school. He served in Korea and Germany. He was married and divorced and the father of a son Gary Don. He had completed a tour in Vietnam with the 5th Cav and had extended his tour, came home on leave. He had been awarded a Bronze Star for Valor and an Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service during his year long tour. His parents were living in Hobbs, New Mexico at the time. He had bought a little sports car when he was in Germany and he toured the country in it while on leave. He returned to Vietnam and was killed. He was buried with full military honors in the Athens City Cemetery, Athens, Texas. He had deep family roots there. His mother died in 1979 at age 55 and his father remarried and he was killed in a farm tractor accident in 1984 in Quitman, Texas at age 69. Both parents are buried next to Don in Athens. Don is remembered by the Permian Basin Vietnam Veterans' Memorial and efforts are being made to honor H. Don Cobb and Grover Lee Dickson, USMC, who received the Navy Cross in Vietnam, in Athens, Texas. Grover Lee is buried at the New Hope Cemetery in Athens and had roots there as well. Many thanks to Don's cousin, Ray Strange of Odessa, and Fran Adair Bethea of the Henderson County, Texas Geneological Society for their help in honoring Don. From a PBVVM representative, Billy M. Brown 4015 Melody Lane, Odessa, Texas 79762 bmbrown@grandecom.net Left, with wife and son; right, with father and son. Don before returning to Vietnam, 1967

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS posthumously to HUBBARD DON COBB Platoon Sergeant United States Army for service as set forth in the following CITATION: For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam: Platoon Sergeant Cobb distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 14 January 1968 while leading his platoon in an attack near Dai Luong. A scout helicopter, performing a reconnaissance at Sergeant Cobb's request, made contact with elements of a Viet Cong regiment in a rock and cave complex in which the platoon was operating. Sergeant Cobb deployed his troops for an assault and immediately received sporadic but deadly rifle and grenade fire. The initial burst wounded the two point men. Sergeant Cobb quickly directed counter fire which accounted for two enemy dead. He then placed himself on the point as the platoon maneuvered around a series of openings in the rocks. Sergeant Cobb spent the next hour creeping forward to hurl explosive charges into the caves. Disregarding his safety, he repeatedly engaged the enemy, personally killing three Viet Cong. At dusk, as he was approaching a cave, an enemy soldier suddenly appeared and, with a burst of automatic rifle fire, mortally wounded Sergeant Cobb. Although he was dying, Sergeant Cobb assaulted the position carrying an explosive charge and plunged headfirst into the hole, killing his foe in the resulting blast. Platoon Sergeant Cobb's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

The point-of-contact for this memorial is a hometown representative, Billy M. Brown 4015 Melody Lane, Odessa, Texas 79762 bmbrown@grandecom.net

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 15 Mar 2004
Last updated 08/01/2006