HIBBS, Robert John 1943-1966
HIBBS, NELSEN TJEPKES
Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 10/3/2014 at 23:12:37
Robert John Hibbs April 21, 1943 - March 5, 1966
In the summer of 2000, ROTC cadets and cadre conducted a ceremony to honor 2nd Lt. Robert J. Hibbs who recieved the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Vietnam War. While Lt. Hibbs is not a graduate of the ROTC program, a permanent memorial in his honor is present in the Department of Miltiary Science.
In 1964 Robert Hibbs, a Cedar Falls resident, graduated from UNI with a degree in history. After graduation he went through basic and infantry training at Ft. Benning, GA and then he went to Officer Candidate School. After being commissioned as a 2nd LT he was shipped off to fight in the Vietnam War in 1965. A month before going home he was leading a 5-man ambush. After successful attacks on two companies Hibbs and a sergeant went back for a wounded soldier. When the sergeant and the soldier were heading back to friendly lines Hibbs stayed to provide cover for them. While charging two machine gun emplacements he was shot and mortally wounded. LT Hibbs was only 23 years old. Before dying he was able to destroy the telescopic sight attached to his M-16 rifle so the Viet Cong couldn't use it. In 1967 the Medal of Honor was presented to his mother for his courageous actions. In the Waterloo Courier of Feb. 28th LTC DePuglio said the Army Officials were so impressed with Hibbs heroism they named the war's largest U.S military offensive, Operation Cedar Falls, in his honor. There also, is a weapons range at Ft. Benning named the Hibbs Range.
For 34 years there had been very little recognition at UNI for Robert Hibbs courageous actions. A fund raising event was held to help raise money for a memorial which cost $17,000. The memorial was completed Summer of 2000 and is located in the field between the West Gym and the Campanile. A dedication ceremony for the memorial was held that fall.
[UNI Dept. of Military Science/Army ROTC]
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Burial at Greenwood Cemetery, Cedar Falls, Iowa
Son of Walter E. Hibbs and Betty Helene (Nelsen) Hibbs Tjepkes
Siblings: Dale, William, and Betsy Hibbs
Black Hawk Obituaries maintained by Karen De Groote.
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