Robert David Walden

"Robert was my oldest son.  I think that statement says much about how I felt about him although I did feel the same way about my younger children.  He was dependable.  He grew up in the hippy era but he was not a hippy.  He tended to go the other way from the way of the crowd.  He did well in school but liked the outdoors, leading him to attend Clemson because of their forestry program.  He was a member of the ROTC and the Pershing Rifles.  In fact, he was head of the PRs his last semester.  He liked the ROTC and decided to join the regular army instead of serving only what was required of him.  He became a Captain soon and missed a promotion to Major by a few days.  He was stationed in Germany and could have stayed there but thought he should go to Vietnam and volunteered to go.  Robert was not a 'spit and polish' officer but instead was more concerned about caring for the soldiers under his command.  On the day he was supposed to transfer to a support role off the front lines, he died as the result of an injury caused by a fire and explosion in their encampment.  I still miss him."

His mother,
Marion Walden
March 12, 2010

"Robert was an exceptional man.  He was a committed Army Captain who gave his best and last for the men in his command.  His heroic actions were only to be expected of a man who had, for all of his life, been a steadfast son of a close-knit Christian family, a selfless and devoted husband and father, and an unfailing officer in the service of his country.  His honesty and strength of character were obvious, not only to all who knew him well, but even to those who knew him only in passing.  I am supremely grateful and was blessed to have shared a few, short years of his life.  His daughter Elizabeth, who was the light of his life, carries on his light now for all the years to come."

Patricia Walden Prioleau
Mount Pleasant, SC
April 18, 2010

"While I don’t have any true 'remembrances' to share, I want to provide a bit of an epilogue to the story for those who knew my father, Robert Walden. My mother and I have lived in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina since soon after Daddy’s death. After several years of raising me by herself, Mom remarried. I was blessed to grow up with a wonderful stepfather and two younger siblings; we were and are a seamless blended family. Today, Mom and Dad live only a few blocks away from where my husband and I are raising our two boys.

I am so grateful to have this opportunity to learn a bit more about my father (and especially for my children to get to know their grandfather). I was a baby when he died, and have always felt a need and desire to know more about him. These memories from friends who knew him have added a wonderful new dimension to the man I’ve come to know through family stories. Thank you so much for taking the time to gather this information and share these remembrances with me, and my family!"

Elizabeth Boyles
Mt. Pleasant, SC
January 30, 2010

"I didn't know Robert very well. As I recall, it was always "Robert", not ever "Bob" (but sometimes "Geechee"), but we did march in the Pershing Rifles drill team together in 1961-62, and being a PR back then was a pretty much a full time job. We practiced at least an hour a day Mon.-Thurs. from September 'thru May and went on a number of PR trips together: several SC Christmas parades; an overnight trip to Coker College dance; the Carolina-Clemson football game; a trip to the Mardi Gras; and a trip to the national drill team championships in Washington, DC (and to March in the National Cherry Blossom Parade). As a group we spent a lot of time together.

My most lasting memory of Robert came the next year, our junior year. At a spring drill in the spring of 1963, the Army ROTC had a "competition" to select the "best drilled cadet," who would receive the R. W. Simpson Medal. Robert was the runner-up in the contest, which I remember very well because I won. The competition was open to all cadets and, as I recall, was mostly in the manual-of-arms rather than marching. The competition went through a number of rounds of small groups (5-6 cadets each) with the "winner" moving on and the others being out. Robert and I were the last two standing, and I think there wasn't much difference in our performances. I had the rank of Cadet Sergeant-Major that year and Robert had some lower cadet rank. I've always wondered if that colored the judges' decision, as I knew Robert was every bit as good as I was in the drill maneuvers and he could have won just as easily as I did.

I lost track of Robert after graduation and was very saddened when I learned of his death in Viet Nam. I've sometimes thought about looking up Robert's family (I understand he had a daughter) and passing that medal along to them. I've had it almost 50 years, and now I think it's Robert's turn to have it.

I'm attaching a picture I have of the PR's that year. It was taken on our trip to Washington. I think one interesting thing about that picture is seeing 32 college sophomores touring Washington, all wearing coats and ties. Robert is standing in the second row, third from the left, in the gold vest."

Preston Earle ‘64
Greensboro, NC
January 12, 2010

"Bob was my CO and friend in an unfriendly environment. Of the three CO's that I served under, Bob's memory will always occupy a place in my heart.  He was one of the best and placed his men's safety above all. He was a good officer and a great person who was doing his duty to the best of his ability.

I was with Bob Walden just prior to his death. After I returned to the states I talked with Pat and tried to explain the circumstances surrounding Bob's death and how much it affected me. I have never been sure if our conversation helped or hurt Pat, but it was something I needed to do because of our friendship.

Bob's death was an unfortunate accident that occurred because of a little carelessness and unfortunate timing. Our unit was part of the Big Red One and we were in the process of being pulled back to the Division HQ for reassignment back to the States. This was part of President Nixon's decision to scale down the US involvement in South Viet Nam. Our unit was a track company and was still out in front of the division but in the process of posting for possible action. As we settled in for the evening we were still in our "wagon wheel" formation with the platoon tracks on the outer ring and the command track in the center. That night we were to inventory our ordnance for disposal.

Bob and I were sitting in the command track talking when the call came that, while cleaning out some of the ammunition, one man carrying a box of trip flares had stumbled and a flare had ignited as it bounced out of the track into a stack of armaments. Bob immediately left our track to supervise the situation. I know that he ordered the track to be positioned to block the potential explosion. I did not go with him as I had just removed my boots and had to put them back on. About that time word came over the radio that "six" was down. I relayed the information to battalion HQ and called in a medivac.

As I understood it, Bob was standing next to the platoon track when a fragment grenade exploded. I know he was medivac’d out that night and went into surgery that same night. When we finally got to stand down position the next day, the platoon leaders and I got the XO's jeep and went to the hospital only to find that Bob had passed away.

I can assure you that Bob was respected by both the men and officers in the company. I was the Forward Observer and Bob was my second Commanding Officer while I was in Viet Nam. He set a high standard for that position.  I valued both his leadership and his friendship. I had actually turned down a rotation out of the field to stay with the unit because of my working relationship with Bob. I trusted him with my life and the lives of the men in our unit. Soon after Bob's death the unit was shipped out in different directions. I went to the First Cavalry Division and ended up as an XO. In that time I lost men and was injured myself, but nothing affected me as much as Bob's death. His was a life that was cut all too short. I know that he is missed by both his wife and daughter. But know that he left his mark on all of us.

Bob's death is still painful for me to remember. I am pleased to know that Clemson University is constructing this memorial and that Bob will be an honored alumnus. I hope that Pat and their daughter are well. Please let them know they are still in my heart and my prayers."

Dave Lewis
Missouri '68
Visalia, CA
January 14, 2010

The following tributes were copied with the approval and provided courtesy of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall Page, www.thewall-usa.com

"CAPT Robert Walden was my first commanding officer in Vietnam, and his leadership helped this green 2LT get along, and do a reasonably good job.  He was a fine officer, and a finer man, and he was taken far too soon. I pray that his family, though I never knew them, understand how much he was respected. He cared about his men, and demanded that we, as leaders do so as well. What better teaching can one receive? Thanks, CPT, for all you did for those of us under your command. You Led well, and taught much. Rest in Peace."

Philip Topps
Highland Lakes, NJ

July 29, 2002