Verwers, Roger Lee
Army Private 1st class

Roger Lee Verwers, age 24, from Coon Rapids, Minnesota, Anoka county.

Service era: Vietnam
Military history: 35th Infantry Regiment

Date of death: Saturday, April 22, 1967
Death details: Bronze Star citation: For heroism in connection with military operations against an armed hostile force on 22 April 1967. On this date, Private First Class Verwers was serving as a Radio-Telephone Operator for the 1st Platoon of Company C, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry, which was conducting a search and destroy operation near Duc Pho, Republic of Vietnam. Shortly after the mission was under way, the point squad came upon a bridge which had to be crossed in order to continue the mission. A fire team from the point squad, along with the Platoon Leader, was crossing the bridge when heavy automatic weapons fire pinned them down and prevented Private First Class Verwers from crossing the bridge with his radio. The Platoon Leader was in a location where he could still call in effective artillery fire on the enemy position; however he was without communications and was pinned-down by intense automatic weapons fire. Seeing that the Platoon Leader had a good view of the target, Private First Class Verwers, with complete disregard for his personal safety, ran with his radio across the bridge under intense automatic weapons fire. Private First Class Verwers was mortally wounded during his heroic attempt, but he successfully reached the Platoon Leader with the radio and artillery fire was called in on the enemy position, eliminating seven of the enemy and destroying a bunker position. Private First Class Verwers’ heroic action was an inspiration to all the men in his platoon and aided greatly in the accomplishment of the company’s mission. His outstanding display of aggressiveness, devotion to duty, and personal bravery is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Cemetery: Forest Hill in Anoka, Minnesota

Source: National Archives, 35th Infantry Regiment Association