Robert Franklin Bacon was born on July 3, 1945, in Newark, NJ. His home of record is Phillipsburg, NJ. He had four brothers, Gary, Grant, Edwin and Roger. Bobby, as he was called, enjoyed auto racing at local dirt tracks. He graduated from Phillipsburg High School in 1964 and continued his education at Kutztown University to become a teacher. He taught art which was his passion.
He was drafted into the US Army and attained the rank of Private First Class (PFC). Bacon was a platoon guide for Advanced Infantry Training at Fort Dix in 1969. Bacon was assigned to A Company, 2nd Platoon, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry, 1st Air Cavalry Division.
Bacon was killed in action on July 17, 1969, in Binh Duong Province, South Vietnam. He was walking point for his platoon and was hit by a B-40 rocket and an AK-47 automatic weapons fire.
He is buried in the Frankford Plains Cemetery in Newton, NJ.
Bacon received numerous awards and decorations including two Bronze Stars with Oak Leaf Cluster and V Clasp, the Purple Heart, the Combat Air Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, the Good Conduct Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Military Merit Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm and Combat Infantryman Badge.
Sources: Roger Bacon (brother), Jessica Bacho (niece), various websites and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024
