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Remember...David Lee Robison
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David Lee Robison was born to Wallace Harper and Erie Belle Gregory Robinson in Gassaway, Braxton County, West Virginia, on December 18, 1946. He would later live in Ireland, Lewis County, West Virginia. David grew up in a small community in Lewis County surrounded by veterans of World War II, helping to convince him to join the Army. David had three sisters whom he grew up with. Erie’s obituary (Clarksburg Exponent, 18 November 2019) lists his siblings as Patricia Maxwell, Barbara Conrad, and Margie Spory. David was a respected member of his community, making close friends with his great sense of humor and compassion.
David enlisted in the Army during the escalation of the war in Vietnam shortly before 1968. He was trained as an Armor Reconnaissance Crewman, and assigned to Bravo Troop, 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, as part of the 25th Infantry Division and would go on the attain the rank of corporal. Shortly after his training, Viet Cong forces launched the Tet Offensive in South Vietnam in January of 1968. David was deployed to Vietnam in March that same year as part of a unit reinforcing American troops launching a counteroffensive after the Tet attacks. David was sent to Binh Duong province, an area known as the "Iron Triangle" due to its being a hot spot for Viet Cong activities along the Cambodian border.
| David Lee Robison was killed in action on December 5, 1968, after his Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) struck a mine during intense fighting near Dau Tieng in South Vietnam. Robison would be awarded the Purple Heart and posthumously promoted to sergeant for his service. He was inducted into the Order of the Spur, a prestigious cavalry order, for his combat service. His name was added to the Schofield Memorial, a memorial dedicated to members of the 25th Infantry Division who lost their lives serving their country. His name can be found on the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Panel 37W, Line 47, of the Memorial Wall. David’s name can also be found on the West Virginia Veterans Memorial in Charleston. Sgt. Robison is buried in Lake Lane Cemetery, in Salt Lick, West Virginia. His parents would also later be buried alongside him at the same grave site. |  Courtesy Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund |
Article prepared by Benjamin Woods, George Washington High School JROTC
October 2020
West Virginia Archives and History welcomes any additional information that can be provided about these veterans, including photographs, family names, letters and other relevant personal history.
