Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

United States of America, Purple Heart (3) (Roger A. Christian; Robert M. Krepps; Richard G. LeFon) nearly extremely fine (3) £80-£100

Robert Martin Krepps served with the United States Forces from 16 August 1965 to 15 August 1971. Research with the lot states that he served in Vietnam from January 1966 and was a machine gunner with A/2/237. He was wounded by a piece of shrapnel to the lining of his heart, which could not be removed, during the Battle of Troung Luong and he subsequently died some years later as a direct result of his wounds.

Sold with copied research, including a firsthand account of the battle, in which the recipient is mentioned:
‘Gunners Montgomery and Krepps were at the rear of the column when they heard the shooting and then a command: “Machine Gun up front!” The two ran up the creek bed, hauling their M-60. Montgomery skidded down onto the creek bank, ready to feed more rounds into the M-60 for Krepps, who was already on his belly and firing. Montgomery felt something explode in his thigh. He saw his left leg dangling behind him, twisted completely around. Two machine gun bullets had pulverised his thigh bone. He had always thought that a wounded man should shout something inspirational. He screamed: “The mother f---er shot me!”’