| Gordon Roberts |
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Ranger Gordon Roberts was born January 1939 and grew up in Oklahoma. He entered the U. S. Army in 1963 and spent over 20 years on active duty in various assignments including 2 tours of combat duty in Vietnam where he was twice wounded. He served multiple tours of duty at the Mountain Ranger Camp as a Ranger Instructor. He was a premier Mountaineering Instructor and taught ropes and knots, climbing, rappelling and fixed rope installations. He also instructed thousands of Ranger Students in combat patrolling techniques. He spent a total 10 years at Camp Frank D. Merrill in Dahlonega, and after retiring from the Army in September 1983 as a Master Sergeant, he worked at Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Georgia as an instructor, advisor and counselor to the Riverside Cadets for another 9 years. Ranger Roberts was awarded the Combat infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star Medal with 2 bronze Oak Leaf Clusters; Army Commendation Medal; Meritorious Service Medal with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster; Purple Heart with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster; Army Achievement Medal; Meritorious Unit Commendation; 7 Good Conduct medals; the National Defense Service Medal; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; Vietnam Service Medal with Silver Star; Master Parachutist Badge ; Pathfinder Badge; 4 overseas Service Bars, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, 4 NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Belgium Parachutist Badge and the coveted Ranger Tab. Ranger Gordon Roberts died on April 25, 2022 in Statesville, North Carolina at the age of 83. Ranger Roberts is survived by his Wife, Gertrud Roberts, sons Tim Roberts and his wife Tina of Gainesville, Georgia, and Michael Roberts and his wife Melinda of Statesville, North Carolina; and four grandchildren Nobi, Ames, Hazel and Sam Roberts. It is altogether fitting that we honor Ranger Gordon Roberts here at the Fallen Ranger Memorial. |
