Robert Louis Horst (20 Jun 1950 - Apr 1972) Obituary

Robert Louis Horst (20 Jun 1950 - Apr 1972) attended Hillcrest High School in Springfield, MO. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Robert Louis Horst (20 Jun 1950 - Apr 1972).

Graduation Year	Class of 1968
Date of Passing	Apr 07, 1972
About	From Viet Nam Memorial website: http://thewall-usa.com/guest.asp?recid=24175 ROBERT LOUIS HORST CWO - W2 - Army - Reserve USARV;His tour began on Jun 10, 1971; Casualty was on Apr 7, 1972 In BINH LONG, SOUTH VIETNAM; HOSTILE, HELICOPTER - CREWAIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND; Body was recovered Memorial Panel 02W - Line 131 Obituary: CWO2 Robert L. Horst_ Funeral services for Robert L. Horst, 21, a chief warrant officer, second, of Route 1, will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Klingner Chapel with the Rev. Henry Wingard officiating. Burial will be in National Cemetery with full military rites conducted at graveside. Horse was killed in action April 7, in Vietnam, where he was an Army aircraft commander of a medical evacuation helicopter. He graduated from Hillcrest High School in 1968 and attended Southwest Missouri State College before entering the Army. Horse had been in Vietnam for 10 months. Surviving are his wife, Mary Beth; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Claiborne Horst, Route 1; a sister, Mrs. Lynn Keene, Springfield; his paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Luis F. Woker, St. Louis; and his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Oto Henne, St. Louis. Memorial contributions may be may to UNICEF, Springfield, Mo. [Spfd Leader Press dated April 15, 1972; SSDI] Vietnam Vet Citation: The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Robert Louis Horst ( SSN removed), Chief Warrant Officer, U.S. Army (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 7 April 1972 while serving as the Aircraft Commander of an unarmed medical evacuation helicopter in the 283d Medical Detachment, while attempting to evacuate three American advisors and one Army of the Republic of Vietnam captain after their convoy had been ambushed by an estimated battalion of highly trained North Vietnamese troops north of the city of An Loc, Republic of Vietnam. Chief Warrant Officer Horst heard about the stranded, critically-wounded Americans, who at the time were completely surrounded by the North Vietnamese ground element, as he flew out to evacuate an American medic who had been wounded while his crew unsuccessfully attempted to extract the besieged Americans. After landing at the staging area of Song Be, chief Warrant Officer Horst received a briefing during which he was informed that the enemy was in possession of numerous anti-aircraft weapons, and the continuous air strikes delivered to the enemy element had been to no avail in slaking the withering fire directed on any and all aircraft attempting to fly in the vicinity. Chief Warrant Officer Horst demonstrating indomitable courage, complete disregard for his own safety and profound concern for his fellow soldiers, elected to go to the site and attempt a rescue. Although three attempts had been previously made to extract the wounded personnel, they had all bee repulsed by the deadly hail of enemy fire. At the site the enemy troops began to make bold advances on the American position despite heavy rocket attacks by the helicopter gunships. Chief Warrant Officer Horst sensing that any further delay might cost the lives of the wounded on the ground, began his approach and landed on the highway. When he did not immediately see the wounded Americans, he hovered down the highway amidst withering fire directed at him from all positions around the aircraft. It was during this heroic and humane attempt to locate the survivors, that chief Warrant Officer Horst was struck and killed by enemy fire. Chief Warrant Officer Horst's feats of gallantry were an inspiration to all who observed and reflect great credit on him and the United States Army. Department of the Army, General Orders No. 40 (October 27, 1972) Born: June 20, 1950 at St. Louis, Missouri Home Town: Springfield, Missouri