Robert Melvin Lough, Jr

Staff Sergeant
HQ CO, HQ BN, 1ST MARDIV, 3RD MAF
United States Marine Corps
27 August 1941 - 23 February 1969
Moundsville, West Virginia
Panel 31W Line 009

3RD MAF

1ST MARDIV
Silver Star

Purple Heart, Good Conduct, National Defense, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign

The database page for Robert Melvin Lough, Jr

16 Oct 2004

I grew up never knowing my uncle Bobby. The family rarely spoke of him. All I knew is that I had an uncle who died in Vietnam. He had a wife, my aunt Beverly and two children, Debbie and Timmy. I don't think he ever saw his son. They lived in the Tampa, FL area when I was a child. Thru the internet, I have been able to find out a little more about him and I am grateful. I don't want him to be forgotten.

From his niece,
April Marie (Lough) Rosier
armra1967@yahoo.com

A Note from The Virtual Wall

The Headquarters, 1st Marine Division, compound came under attack during the early morning hours of 23 Feb 1969. The Headquarters Battalion's Command Chronology contains the following entry:
"The Division Command Post perimeter came under enemy ground attack at several locations. The defense line was penetrated at two locations and it was necessary to commit the reaction company and one of the provisional rifle companies to counterattack and restore the lines. Artillery fire was delivered to seal off enemy withdrawal and HU-1E gunships were called in to strafe the hillside behind the Division CP.

"Casualties: Enemy: 18 KIA and 1 POW. Friendly: 9 KIA and 29 WIA."

The Virtual Wall is able to identify ten men assigned to HQ Battalion, 1st MarDiv who died on 23 Feb - but it is possible that one of them was not involved in the attack on the Division Command Post. The ten men were

  • SSgt Robert M. Lough, Moundsville, WV, HQ Company (Silver Star)
  • HM2 Jose A. Ollivier, Covina, CA, HQ Company
  • Cpl Paul J. Mitchell, Mahanoy City, PA, Service Company
  • Cpl John P. Ziegler, Altoona, PA, Service Company
  • LCpl Pete G. Heckwine, Des Plaines, IL, HQ Company
  • LCpl Christopher D. Prather, Minneapolis, MN, HQ Company
  • LCpl Victor A. Rabel, Wheaton, MN, Service Company
  • LCpl Woots E. Wadkins, Sciotoville, OH, Comm Company
  • Pfc William E. Null, Williamson, WV, HQ Company
  • Pfc Larry D. Staggs, Black Rock, AR, HQ Company


The point-of-contact for this memorial is
a niece,
April Marie (Lough) Rosier
armra1967@yahoo.com
16 Oct 2004



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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Last updated 02/18/2006