Carl Robert Arvin
Carl Robert Arvin
Carl Robert Arvin was born in Ypsilanti, Michigan, on 19 January 1943. At Ypsilanti High School, “Bob” was valedictorian of his graduating class, and accepted an appointment to United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating with the Class of 1965. He was then assigned to Fort Benning, Georgia, for Airborne and Ranger training, and thereafter to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Bob received orders for Vietnam in 1967. For combat actions on 5 September 1967, he received the Silver Star and Purple Heart. On 8 October 1967, during a sweep of a suspected enemy base, Bob’s unit was attacked by an entrenched enemy regiment. The intensity of the enemy’s fire pinned down the unit in an exposed, untenable position. He repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire as he moved about, directing supporting fires. Bob was mortally wounded by small arms fire and died on the battlefield. His heroic actions assisted his battalion in defeating a superior enemy force and were recognized by award of a second Silver Star. Bob was buried at West Point on 17 October 1967. General William Westmoreland, Commander of U.S. military forces in the Republic of Vietnam, wrote, “He was one of the most outstanding young men I have had the privilege of knowing. The Army has lost one of its future leaders.”