Soldier From Detroit Killed In Vietnam War Among Those Honored With New Postage Stamp
DETROIT (WWJ) - A late Detroit man is among those honored with a special United State Postal Service stamp for the Medal of Honor recipients from the Vietnam War.
Robert "Bob" Poxon's brother David was among those who spoke at the unveiling of the stamp Tuesday at the Historic Fort Wayne in Detroit.
Poxon said his brother, a First Lieutenant in the Army, was killed during a battle on this date 46 years ago.
"With a grenade he led a charge onto the bunker and took out the bunker and saved a number of his platoon," David Poxon said.
"They landed in a landing zone that was occupied by Viet Cong and first thing the enemy opened up and shot one of Bob's men. And Bob, being a platoon leader, ran across open ground, tried to secure the position and tried to help the fallen soldier," he said.
Robert Poxon was mortally wounded in the ensuing firefight.
David Poxon said his father felt guilty for encouraging his son to be a soldier, but he always looked back with pride.
"[He had] the realization that Bob died saving his men, and if he wasn't there the casualties for his platoon would have been much greater," he said.
Along with Medal of Honor recipients from the Army, the stamps also honor those from the Navy and Marines.
Officials say, of the nearly 3 million service men and women who fought in the Vietnam, war only 258 were awarded the Medal of Honor. More than six out of 10 award recipients were killed in the line of duty.
