ROBERT J. LAZARO
Home Of Record:
GLENDORA
County:
Camden
Status:
Killed In Action
Rank:
2LT
Branch Of Service:
Army
Country Of Incident:
SVN
Date of Casualty:
October 09, 1967
Date of Birth:
March 29, 1947

 

Robert James Lazaro was born on March 29, 1947, and grew up in Trenton. He was a 1965 graduate of Triton Regional High School in Runnemede, NJ, where he enjoyed books, fishing and basketball. His family later moved to Glendora, NJ. His home of record is Glendora, NJ.

Lazaro entered the US Army and attained the rank of Second Lieutenant (2LT). He completed Infantry OCS at Ft. Benning, GA, and was assigned to A Company, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry, 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division.

On October 9, 1967, at the age of 20, Lazaro was killed in action by enemy fire. An intense firefight began and several men in his platoon were wounded in the initial fire. Lazaro immediately moved back to the main area of contact and then moved forward until he was in front of the wounded personnel. His effective fire kept the enemy pinned down long enough for the wounded and the dead to be evacuated. They were on a search and destroy mission.

Lazaro was posthumously awarded the Silver Star medal. His citation reads:
For gallantry in action while engaged in military operations against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. On 9 October 1967 Second Lieutenant Lazaro distinguished himself while serving as a Platoon Leader in Company A, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry, conducting a search and destroy operation near Phuoc Son. When Company A made contact with a force of the North Vietnamese Army, an intense fire fight began and several men in his platoon were wounded in the initial burst of fire. Second Lieutenant Lazaro attempted to maneuver part of the point squad to the flank of the enemy but the heavy hostile fire forced him to withdraw. Immediately, he moved back to the main area of contact and then moved forward until he was in front of the wounded personnel. Second Lieutenant Lazaro stood up and began delivering intense and accurate fire on the enemy positions to his front. His effective fire kept the enemy pinned down long enough for the wounded and the dead to be evacuated. Firing constantly for a prolonged period, he expanded his ammunition and could no longer deliver fire for his own protection. Still under enemy fire, he moved back to secure more ammunition and again moved forward. Second Lieutenant Lazaro crawled to one of the wounded and dragged him back to a safe position, stopping only to fire back at the enemy. He was in the process of moving to assist and rally a group of his men when he was mortally wounded by enemy gunfire. Second Lieutenant Lazaro’s exceptional gallantry is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit on himself, his unit and the United States Army.

Sources: Marian Lazaro Kline (mother), Fred Knight (high school classmate) and NJVVMF



MESSAGES LEFT ON THEWALL-USA

** Note that some of these messages are from years ago and their contact information may not be good anymore **

Brian Smith
brianjsmith@worldnet.att.net
Fellow OCS Graduate
I graduated from Infantry Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, GA with Robert Lazaro on March 7, 1967 and remember him to this day. I salute him and the other graduates from the Benning School for Boys who were killed in action in Vietnam. God bless him.
Saturday, March 25, 2000


Tim Peters
RTPeters11@aol.com
I served with him.
P.O. Box 6316
Clearwater,Fl. 33758
I served with Robert Lazaro and want to remind everyone of his service, his courage and his sacrifice. Late in the afternoon of October 9, 1967 our rifle company assaulted North Vietnamese Army positions on a heavily vegetated ridgeline. The North Vietnamese were in much greater strength than anticipated and the assault quickly became a desperate, mortal struggle. Robert Lazaro was a platoon leader, a second lieutenant. As fate would have it, he was involved in the attack of what turned out to be the strongest part of the North Vietnamese positions. Lt. Lazaros leadership never faltered. He acted with courage and his actions on that day earned him a posthumous decoration for gallantry in action. Robert Lazaro was a hero and my friend. I write this on behalf of all the men of Company A, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry.
Wednesday, July 21, 1999


Brian Smith
brianjsmith@worldnet.att.net
Graduated Together from OCS
From March 7-10, 2002 Class 14-67 (52nd Co.) of the Fort Benning Infantry Officer Candidate School will hold a reunion, 35 years after graduating as 2nd Lieutenants on March 7, 1967. Bobby Lazaro was a classmate of ours and will be honored on Friday, March 8, 2002, when those class members present will dedicate a brass and marble plaque at the site of our OCS barracks at Fort Benning. The plaque will be permanently placed in the ground for all those future officer candidates to see and contemplate the enormous sacrifice made by our 10 classmates and 2 Tactical Officers who were killed in action in Vietnam. Wives, parents or close relatives are invited to join the dedication if they find it possible. You will be welcome to also participate in the other events associated with our reunion. Anyone who would like more information should respond to my email address.
Friday, December 14, 2001




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