A Profiles of Valor reader who saw a recent profile on a friend who just visited Chattanooga, Army combat medic PFC James “Doc” McCloughan, a Medal of Honor recipient, recommended I look up Texas native Bobby Abshire. He knew I was a First Responder early in my career (cross-trained as a uniformed officer, firefighter, and EMT), and for that reason, knew this story would be of particular interest.
I am ashamed to say I had never heard of Bobby, but I am grateful to know about him now.
There are not many research references for Bobby online because he died 40 years ago, and not in combat, but as a firefighter in Fort Worth, Texas. However, his combat service was extraordinary. I found records indicating that after graduating from high school, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and spent nine years on active duty, serving three combat tours in Vietnam.
On one day in May 1966 during his first Vietnam tour, then-Cpl Abshire, as the Crew Chief of a UH-1E helicopter while serving with Marine Observation Squadron TWO (VMO-2), First Marine Aircraft Wing, flew nine missions, personally assisting in the rescue of 23 wounded Marines from a hot zone, at mortal risk to himself.
For his resolve, courage, and dedication, he was nominated for the Medal of Honor, and eventually was awarded the Navy Cross, the second-highest military decoration after the Medal of Honor for Navy and Marine Corps service personnel.
According to his citation:
"When a platoon from Company A, First Battalion, Ninth Marines was pinned down in an open rice paddy by heavily armed North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces, Corporal Abshire’s medical evacuation helicopter was assigned the mission of recovering the casualties, which included over half of the men of the platoon. Despite vicious incoming fire which damaged the helicopter, a successful landing was made on the second attempt. Since remnants of the platoon were too heavily committed to assist in the evacuation, Corporal Abshire jumped from the helicopter and gallantly carried two wounded Marines into the aircraft while enemy rounds struck all around him. When it became necessary to return to the home field to replace the battle-damaged helicopter, he quickly transferred equipment to a new aircraft and volunteered to return. On each of the eight trips by his aircraft into the besieged zone, Corporal Abshire ignored enemy fire to assist in loading wounded and dead Marines. On one occasion, he swiftly silenced an enemy machine gun with accurate fire from a grenade launcher. His fearless and determined efforts contributed in large measure to the success of the mission, in which twenty-three casualties were evacuated. His courage in the face of hostile fire and his compassion for his wounded comrades were an inspiration to all who observed him. By his daring actions and devotion to duty in spite of great personal risk, Corporal Abshire reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service."
Reviewing a Marine Veterans page, I found that Bobby separated from the USMC in 1971 as a Staff Sergeant. He returned home to Texas and joined his father as a firefighter in Fort Worth. Soon thereafter, he received his department’s meritorious service award for resuscitating a two-year-old boy who nearly drowned in a fishing pond.
Bobby served the Fort Worth community for 10 more years until his death in 1984, and his name is one every Marine and firefighter should remember.
On the night of 9 June that year, driving home after his shift, he stopped to assist a motorist on the side of the road, as he had done many times before. While talking with that motorist, Gary Thomas, Bobby turned just in time to see a car that was going to strike them, and as Thomas recalled: “He yelled, ‘Watch out,’ pushed me off the side of the road, and it hit him. He was just one of those nice guys that stops to help anybody.”
Bobby was struck and killed by a drunk driver, who was later identified, charged, and convicted. He was 41 years old, leaving behind his wife Jean and their 10-year-old daughter.
Jean said that helping others was typical of Bobby. She recalled: “One night we were coming home from a ballgame, and a young kid had been hit on a bicycle. He had to stop and help. He was always doing that. He’d tell me, ‘I could be the difference between someone living and someone dying because I know what I’m doing.’”
Cpl Bobby Abshire: Your example of valor — a humble American Patriot defending Liberty for all above and beyond the call of duty and in disregard for the peril to your own life — is eternal.
"Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one’s life for his friends." (John 15:13)
Live your life worthy of his sacrifice.
Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis
Pro Deo et Libertate -- 1776
Join us in daily prayer for our Patriots in uniform — Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen -- standing in harm’s way in defense of American Liberty, and for Veterans, First Responders, and their families.