Robert Milton Staton

A SERVICE OF LOVE AND REMEMBRANCE
FOR
SGT ROBERT MILTON  POP STATON, JR.
November 26, 1947 - November 11, 1967
ROBERT MILTON POP STATON, JR. was born on November 26, 1947, to the
late Robert Milton Staton, Sr and the late Lola Staton
and was a member of a family of 9 siblings. At a early age, he joined Mt Carmel
Disciples Church of Christ. He was reared in Jamesville, NC until adulthood. Pop
attended and graduated from E. J. Hayes High School in 1965.
Pop was not drafted, but volunteered to serve his country, during the Vietnam
era, by joining the US Army in January 1966, at age 18. His specialty training
was as a Light Vehicle Driver. Soon thereafter, he became an Airborne
Paratrooper and earned rank quickly. In August 1967, and at the tender age of
19, he was sent to fight in the Vietnam War and within three months, he lost his
life fighting for his country in which his body was never recovered.
He was well know as Pop and will always be remembered as a motivated
young man. We thank God every day for letting us borrow him, even if it was just
for a little while. Although it has almost been 52 years since his passing, he
has and will continue to be remembered and missed.
Family members still here cherishing his memories: four sisters, Joan Townsend
(Haywood) of Philadelphia, PA: Jane Snipes of Philadelphia, PA; Carrie Baines
(Conrad) of Hampton, VA; and Helen Ebron of Hampton, VA.; two brothers, William
Ray Staton of Hampton, VA and James Staton (Mary), of Naugatuck, Connecticut;
and a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.
Pop was killed and his body became missing in action in 1967. Although his
parents were living at the time he was killed, Pop's parents, Robert, Sr and
Lola Staton have since passed. Additionally, two of his brothers, Eugene and
Ronnie Staton, have also passed.
Records indicate that after his death, Robert was promoted to the rank of
Sergeant E-5. Robert was also a posthumous recipient of the following awards:
Purple Heart
Bronze Star
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal
Pop is the only KIA/MIA Vietnam Service Member from Jamesville. Although his
body is still unaccounted for, military personnel verified his death, changing
his status to Killed in Action (KIA)
Today there are over 1,500 American servicemen and civilians still unaccounted
for from the Vietnam War. Staton's name is recorded on the Courts of the
Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii
along with others unaccounted-for from the Vietnam War. Robert's name is also
on panel 29E, line 076 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall, in Washington, D.C. It is
noted, that although this memorial service is being held, the Defense Department
is still dedicated in searching for his remains.
This year's Veteran's Day (November 11, 2019) will mark 52 years since our
brother was killed and missing in action. Even though this country did not win
the Vietnam War, our brother and others killed in that war did not die in vain.
Whether it's for our freedom or another's, the words of Jesus are true for
everyone. There is no greater love than this: that a man lay down his life
for another. Thousands of service men and women have lost their lives
fighting for this country. All fallen heroes who lost their lives in combat
should be honored to the upmost.
To our brother, SGT Robert Milton "Pop" Staton, Jr., you will never be
forgotten and you're always be in our hearts.
Joan, Jane, Carrie, Helen, James, William Ray, nieces, & nephews
**BELOW ARE THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING ROBERT'S DEATH, ALONG WITH THREE
OTHER SOLDIERS FROM HIS PLATOON THAT WERE ALSO KILLED AND BODIES BECAME MISSING
IN ACTION AS WELL. PLEASE READ AT YOUR CONVENIENCE, AS WE WILL NOT BE READING
THIS SECTION OUT LOUD:
On Veteran's Day, 11 November 1967, PFC Edwin J. Martinez-Mercado, PFC Gary
F. Shaw, PVT John Stuckey, Jr. and Specialist 4th Class Robert Milton Staton,
Jr. were assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne
Brigade. On that date, Company C was participating in a search and destroy
mission to route communist forces infiltrating into Kontum Province, South
Vietnam.
Company C located and engaged an enemy force of unknown size. The unit was
moving down a ridge line covered with thick bamboo when it was savagely attacked
by a North Vietnamese battalion firing mortars, rockets, and automatic weapons.
During the fierce firefight that ensured, Specialist 4th Class Robert Milton
Staton, Jr., and his comrades were mortally wounded by enemy ground fire.
Following the battle, all four soldiers were examined by the patrols medic
and judged to be dead. Because of the hour and the unstable tactical situation,
only the living could be extracted by helicopter from the battlefield leaving
the bodies of the dead on the battlefield for later recovery.
A few days later, a search and recovery team was inserted into the battle site.
The search and recovery team completely searched the surrounding area, but were
unable to locate the bodies Staton and his comrades. Likewise, they found no
signs of freshly dug graves. At the time the ground search was terminated, all
four men were reported as Killed in Action/Bodies Not Recovered.
For Pop and his fellow soldier men, there is no doubt of their fate. However,
each man has the right to have his remains returned to his family, friends, and
country. Above all else, each man has the right not to be forgotten by the
nation for which he gave his life.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that Memorial Donations may be
made to: The Town of Jamesville, (P. O. Box, 215, Jamesville, NC 27846) to help
recoup the price of Staton's monument and future purchase towards an all
veterans monument.Please write Staton's Memorial on the memo.