- SURNAME
Lapham
- FORENAME
Robert Grantham
- UNIT
602 Fighter Squadron (14 Air Commando Wing)
- RANK
Major
- NUMBER
0-16173573
- DATE OF DEATH
8th February 1968
- AGE
40
- GRAVESITE
Arlington National Cemetery,Virginia Section 60 Site 341
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Marshall,Michigan
born 18.2.1927 Michigan
son of Dale Spencer and Avis Mary (nee Grantham) Lapham
husband of Jean (nee Breacken) Lapham (died 1973) (2 children)
attended Marshall High School 1940s
USAAF 1940s
served in WW2 and Korea
awards Silver Star (last action),D.F.C. with 2 oak leaf clusters,Air Medal with 7 oak leaf clusters
pilot
A-1G Skyraider
KIA near Lang Vei,Quang Tri Province,South Vietnam
body not recovered
memorial stones at
Golden Gate National Cemetery,San Bruno,California
Oakridge Cemetery,Marshall,Calhoun County,Michigan Section 10
remains repatriated 16.11.2005
remains identified 24.7.2006
remains interred Arlington 19.10.2007
Vietnam Veterans Memorial,Washington,D.C. Panel 38E Line 32
DATE OF DEATH:
08-Feb-1968AWARD:
https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/lapham-robert-grantham.59602/CITATION:
Silver Star : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Major Robert Granthan Lapham (AFSN: 0-16173573), United States Air Force, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force while serving as an A-1E Pilot of the 602d Fighter Squadron, 14th Air Commando Wing, in action against the enemy in Southeast Asia on 8 February 1968. On that date, Major Lapham led his flight of two A-1E Skyraiders against a column of three hostile tanks attacking friendly troops. In the face of intense ground fire, Major Lapham scored a direct hit which completely destroyed the lead tank and broke the attack. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Major Lapham has reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.
Distinguished Flying Cross : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Major Robert Granthan Lapham (AFSN: 0-16173573), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an A-1E Pilot of the 602d Fighter Squadron, 14th Air Commando Wing, in Southeast Asia on 6 October 1967. On that date, Major Lapham participated in a successful emergency extraction of a friendly team which had become surrounded and was in immediate danger of being overrun. Major Lapham delivered all his ordnance on target, accounting for many hostile casualties and allowing the entrapped team to be rescued, without injury. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Major Lapham reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.
Distinguished Flying Cross (Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster) : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pride in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat "V" (Posthumously) to Major Robert Granthan Lapham (AFSN: 0-16173573), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an A-1E Pilot of the 602d Fighter Squadron, 14th Air Commando Wing, in Southeast Asia on 29 December 1967. On that date, Major Lapham was flying number two aircraft in a flight of two A-1E Skyraiders in support of friendly ground troops pinned down by a well-entrenched, numerically superior hostile force. Despite intense ground fire, Major Lapham made repeated low level, devastating attacks against the entrenched gun positions, delivering his ordnance with pinpoint accuracy, killing 25 hostile troops and permitting the safe evacuation of the friendly team. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Lapham reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.
Distinguished Flying Cross (Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster) : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pride in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat "V" (Posthumously) to Major Robert Granthan Lapham (AFSN: 0-16173573), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an A-1E Pilot of the 602d Fighter Squadron, 14th Air Commando Wing, in Southeast Asia on 15 January 1968. On that date, Major Lapham led his flight of two A-1E Skyraiders against a vital storage area. Despite intense, accurate ground fire from hostile forces, which inflicted sixteen damaging hits on his aircraft, Major Lapham, with unwavering calmness and courage, made repeated attacks against the hostile positions, silencing the ground fire and completely destroying the target. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Lapham reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.
Distinguished Flying Cross : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Major Robert Granthan Lapham (AFSN: 0-16173573), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an A-1E Pilot of the 602d Fighter Squadron, 14th Air Commando Wing, in Southeast Asia on 6 October 1967. On that date, Major Lapham participated in a successful emergency extraction of a friendly team which had become surrounded and was in immediate danger of being overrun. Major Lapham delivered all his ordnance on target, accounting for many hostile casualties and allowing the entrapped team to be rescued, without injury. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Major Lapham reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.
Distinguished Flying Cross (Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster) : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pride in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat "V" (Posthumously) to Major Robert Granthan Lapham (AFSN: 0-16173573), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an A-1E Pilot of the 602d Fighter Squadron, 14th Air Commando Wing, in Southeast Asia on 29 December 1967. On that date, Major Lapham was flying number two aircraft in a flight of two A-1E Skyraiders in support of friendly ground troops pinned down by a well-entrenched, numerically superior hostile force. Despite intense ground fire, Major Lapham made repeated low level, devastating attacks against the entrenched gun positions, delivering his ordnance with pinpoint accuracy, killing 25 hostile troops and permitting the safe evacuation of the friendly team. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Lapham reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.
Distinguished Flying Cross (Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster) : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pride in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat "V" (Posthumously) to Major Robert Granthan Lapham (AFSN: 0-16173573), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an A-1E Pilot of the 602d Fighter Squadron, 14th Air Commando Wing, in Southeast Asia on 15 January 1968. On that date, Major Lapham led his flight of two A-1E Skyraiders against a vital storage area. Despite intense, accurate ground fire from hostile forces, which inflicted sixteen damaging hits on his aircraft, Major Lapham, with unwavering calmness and courage, made repeated attacks against the hostile positions, silencing the ground fire and completely destroying the target. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Lapham reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.
WEB LINKS:
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/90994
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