Paul Frederick Cobb (1943 - 1968)

Born 26 Jul 1943 in Portsmouth City, Virginia, United States of America

Died 16 May 1968 at age 24 in Quảng Nam, Vietnam

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Biography

Paul Cobb was awarded the Purple Heart.

Paul Cobb is a Military Veteran.
Served in the United States Marine Corps
2ndLt Infantry, KIA in Vietnam

2nd Lt. Paul Cobb was killed in action during the Vietnam War.

2ndLt Paul Cobb served in the United States Marine Corps in the Vietnam War
Service started:
Unit(s): =A Co.,1st Bn, 7th Marine Regiment; 1st Marine Division, III MAF
Service ended:

Paul was born in 1943. He passed away in 1968. Paul, the son of William C. Cobb Jr. and Edla R. Cobb of Suffolk VA, the husband of Bonnie W. Cobb of Roanoke VA

Parents: William Chester Cobb Jr 1912–1972 Edla Rook Cobb 1914–2000

Military

Vietnam War US Marines 2nd Lt., A CO, 1ST BN, 7TH MARINES, 1ST MARDIV, III MAF He enlisted in the US Marine Corps on June 2, 1967 and received his Commission as a 2dLt in Quantico VA. He arrived in Vietnam on January 17, 1968 and was assigned as a Platoon Commander with Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st MARDIV (Rein) FMF.

During Operation ALLEN BROOK, Company G 2d Battalion, and Company A 1st Battalion encountered a large NVA Regimental (36th) sized force of the 308th NVA Division in the heavily fortified village complex of Phu Dong on Go Noi Island. The Marines encountered heavy enemy fire, varying from individual small arms, to B-40 RPG's (Rocket Propelled Grenades), heavy machine-guns and mortar fire. The attacking Marine force began taking heavy casualties from an entrenched enemy who stood its ground in protective bunkers often fighting the Marines at close quarters.

Marine mortar fire and artillery support could not break the NVA defenses throughout most of the day, until finally the sweltering heat and an accumulation of fifty fixed wing air strikes forced the NVA out of their bunkers and trenches, afraid of encirclement by the evening the NVA broke contact and withdrew leaving some of their dead behind.

When the battle ended at the end of the day Company A counted their casualties, ten men had been killed in action and many more were wounded one would die of his severe wounds. Among the casualties was 2dLt Cobb who had been killed in action as a result of a gunshot wound from hostile rifle fire.

• 2dLt Cobb was presented the Navy Cross Medal posthumously "For extraordinary heroism ....on 16 May 1968".

Sources

• Semper Fi Brother! Sgt R.C. Floyd, (Floyd-1923)
• www.virtualwall.org
• 1st Battalion 7th Marines Association and the1/7 Marines Vietnam Memorial, Marine Corps Museum, Quantico, Virginia, USA
• National Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C, USA
• National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: Portsmouth City, Portsmouth, Virginia; Roll: 1902; Page: 12; Enumeration District: 117-90
• Virginia Department of Health; Richmond, Virginia; Virginia, Marriages, 1936-2014; Roll: 101144727
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/69674143/paul_frederick-cobb: accessed April 8, 2024), memorial page for 2LT Paul Frederick Cobb (26 Jul 1943–16 May 1968), Find a Grave Memorial ID 69674143, citing Sherwood Burial Park, Salem, Salem City, Virginia, USA; Maintained by Victor Vilionis (contributor 47207612).