Kent Martin Zerr

The database page for Kent Martin Zerr

22 Apr 2008 Sp5 Zerr was pointman for Bravo Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Air Cav Div based in Quan Loi, Viet Nam. He was a member of the Bravo Troop Blues - a quick-reaction force that scrambled after downed choppers. We also did recon missions. Kent was killed in action when he was about to fling a frag grenade toward a bunker, which turned out to be an NVA bunker complex. Even though the Blues were outmanned we escaped without further injury, thanks to the heroics of Sp5 Kent Martin Zerr. His warning saved the lives of the whole Blues platoon (25 troopers). Cobra gunships, Scout birds, Lift birds and even two jets with napalm reacted to the trouble that we were in. Sp5 Zerr will always be remembered by this Blues combat medic and the rest of the Blues that fateful day. From a member of the B-Trp 1/9 Cav Blues on 3-6-70, Doc Cavalieri dilligas@rochester.rr.com

Headquarters UNITED STATES ARMY VIETNAM APO San Francisco 21 June 1970 GENERAL ORDERS NUMBER 1944 AWARD OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS 1. TC 320. The following AWARD is announced posthumously. Kent Martin ZERR Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army Troop B, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division Awarded: Distinguished Service Cross Date action: 6 March 1970 Theater: Republic of Vietnam Reason: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Kent Martin Zerr, Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Troop B, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Specialist Four Zerr distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 6 March 1970 while serving as point man of a rifle platoon operating near the Cambodian border in search of a suspected enemy bunker complex. While moving toward the suspected enemy area, Specialist Zerr spotted the first enemy bunker and alerted the rest of the platoon. As the platoon began to sweep the bunker complex, they came under intense machine gun and automatic weapons fire from an estimated company-size enemy force. One of Specialist Zerr's comrades was wounded at the beginning of the conflict. Specialist Zerr exposed himself to intense enemy fire as he rushed to his comrade's aid and moved him to a rear area. When Specialist Zerr returned to the contact area, he found his unit embattled from the front and on both flanks. Noticing an enemy machine gun position only fifteen meters away, Specialist Zerr crawled forward through enemy fire and threw a hand grenade into the bunker, destroying the machine gun and killing the bunker's three occupants. Ordered to withdraw so that gunships could be called in on the enemy positions, Specialist Zerr volunteered to provide cover fire for his platoon's withdrawal. Specialist Zerr's bravery exposed himself as he placed suppressive fire on the enemy positions and received return fire. While performing this mission, he was mortally wounded by enemy automatic weapons fire. Specialist Four Zerr's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army. Authority: By direction of the President under the provisions of the Act of Congress.

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 22 Apr 2008
Last updated 08/10/2009