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<em>Robert Frank Serio, Jr</em>., was born in New York on 5 September 1942, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Serio. He was killed in action in Vietnam on 17 April 1968. He was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal, six Air Medals, and the Purple Heart.</p>
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During his unfortunately short military career, he served in Germany with the 3rd Battalion, 32nd Armor of the 3d Armored Division.</p>
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Later he was assigned to Ft. Riley, Kansas, and the 1st Infantry Division in command of Company A, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor.</p>
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Because the “Big Red One” had already deployed to Vietnam, Bob, according to Bill Jackman who also commanded a tank company at Ft. Riley, began clamoring to get his unit deployed to Vietnam.</p>
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The M551 Sheridan tank, however, which was the mainstay of his company, was declared not yet ready for combat. Bob, therefore, received assignment to Vietnam as an individual replacement.</p>
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Bill continues. “Bobby had that star quality about him, of which I am reminded every time I visit his grave at West Point. It also brings into very personal and direct focus words I have heard from WWI, WWII, and Korean War veterans: ‘War is an indiscriminate killer, and we are nothing more than fortunate survivors.’”</p>
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In June 1978, at Ft. Knox, Kentucky, Colonel Thomas W Kelly, Commander of the 194th Armored Brigade, made the following remarks as he conducted the ceremony dedicating Serio Hall and Serio Park. Bob had been then-Major Kelly’s Assistant Operations Officer before taking command of A Troop, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry, five days before his death. “We name this building today to honor a superb young man . . . but in a larger sense to honor all our fallen comrades from all our wars ... I was with him then and had given him the order that committed his troops to the battle. An aero-rifle infantry platoon had been inserted into a patch of jungle along a rice paddy...Immediately upon debarking the aircraft, the infantry was ambushed and received withering fire, causing heavy casualties, pinning them down...Without relief they could have been annihilated...Captain Serio immediately rallied his forces and moved them 10 miles to the location of the friendly infantry unit, where his troop was confronted by the enemy’s devastating fire. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Captain Serio positioned his vehicle at the point of contact where he could best control the action of his elements. He personally directed each vehicle into a strategic position between the pinned-down infantry unit and the enemy force, and chose a secured landing zone to be utilized by helicopters evacuating the wounded.</p>
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After securing the friendly force’s positions, he assigned each platoon a sector of fire and began an attack that routed the enemy from their bunkers and entrenched positions, thus saving the lives of his brothers in the Infantry. As the enemy broke contact, his track received a direct hit from an enemy rocket, and Captain Serio was mortally wounded. For his valor in this close combat against numerically superior hostile forces, he was awarded the Silver Star posthumously. ‘Greater love hath no man than he lay down his life for the life of a friend.’ I was then, as I am now, convinced that Bob Serio would have risen to the very highest levels of the military, and he was my personal choice for future Chief of Staff of the Army . . . Those of us who knew, respected, and loved Bob will always remember him as a tower of strength and a shining example to be emulated, but, more importantly, he touched us, and we knew he passed our way.”</p>
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As a cadet, Bob excelled in everything he attempted. He graduated 34th in the class and wore the stars that confirmed that accomplishment. He was a cadet captain and served as 2d Regimental Adjutant during firstie year. Bob played rugby and, according to Bill Jackman, distinguished himself in that arena as well.</p>
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<em>John Murray and Bill Jackman ’64</em></p>