Hunt, Robert William, SFC

Final Mission of CPL Robert W. Hunt
Posted on 6/1/14 - by wkillian@smjuhsd.org
 
On February 28, 1968, CPL Robert W. Hunt was a member of an M-48 tank crew in combat with hostile forces in Hoc Mon, a suburb of Saigon. He was last seen standing on the tank when it took direct hits from two rocket propelled grenades. The next day friendly forces recovered the bodies of two tank crewmen, but there was no sign of Corporal Hunt. He was declared missing. In January 1973, the Provisional Revolution Government reported the death of PFC James J. Scuiter while in captivity. However, PFC Scuiter's remains were located and recovered from the scene of the combat where Corporal Hunt was declared missing. It was believed that the PRG had misidentified the remains. Corporal Hunt was declared dead/body not recovered in September 1978. He was not identified alive in the Vietnamese prison system. In 1975, U.S. interviewers located a former soldier from the People's Army 84th Regiment, 9th Infantry Division. He described himself as the individual who had fired the rocket propelled grenades which disabled the M-41 tank and stated that an African-American had been captured on that date (CPL Hunt was African-American). Since 1985, U.S. intelligence has received several reports about an African-American killed in action and buried in the Hoc Mon area. While not identified as CPL Hunt, these reports are similar to the location and circumstances pertaining to his loss. [Taken from pownetwork.org]


SYNOPSIS: Robert W. Hunt was a gunner on an M41 Tank assigned to Troop C, 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division. On February 28, 1968, his unit was engaged in a reconnaissance in force mission just north of Saigon in South Vietnam.

The enemy launched an attack with rocket propelled grenades and heavy automatic weapons fire just after the tank commander had stopped to check the ID of an indigenous person. During the assault, the tank received two direct RPG hits.

Hunt was seen standing in the rear of the tank just prior to the assault. Because of heavy fighting, the area was not secured until the next day, and the tank could not be immediately checked for survivors. When search teams went into the area the following day, Hunt could not be found.

Lost the same day at the same coordinates on ground was James J. Scuitier. His name disappeared from the lists of missing by September 1978, but there is reference to his name in Hunt's files from Joint Casualty Resolution Center (JCRC). JCRC files indicate that both Hunt and Scuitier were captured, but the Army has nothing on file to indicate that Hunt was captured.

The Vietnamese stated that Scuitier died in captivity, and although his name is no longer on the lists of missing, no record can be found of remains being returned that can be identified as his. According to the Army, Scuitier was captured in March 1968 and died in March 1968. Other casualty records show that Scuitier died in February 1968 while on board the tank. Other files indicate that remains identified as those of Scuitier were returned in February 1968. Finally, a cryptic data remark states "730127 PRG SAYS DIC" which could either mean that the Vietnamese stated on January 27, 1973 that Scuitier had died in captivity, or that the Vietnamese stated that he died on January 27, 1973.

Like many of the POW/MIA cases, there are frustrating discrepancies in those of Hunt and Scuitier. It is little wonder that many POW/MIA family members have learned to suspect information given to them by the government about their missing man.

The U.S. Government seems to believe that all Americans left behind in Indochina are now dead. Critics wonder if that is the case, why are the over 10,000 sighting reports still classified? Why are the complete files of the men who are still missing denied to their families? What happened to Robert Hunt and James Scuitier? Are they dead - or alive?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Uncle Robert,

It's me, Geraldine's daughter. I never got to meet you, but I love you just the same. I think of you often.

Posted by: Cathy
Email:
Relationship: I am SFC Hunt's niece
Monday, May 30, 2005

 

have not forgotten you. I chair the Adoption Committee for The National League of Families of Prisoners of War and Missing in Action in Southeast Asia. We will always remember the 1,889 Americans still unaccounted for in Southeast Asia and the thousands of others that lost their lives. We will not stop our efforts until all of you are home where you belong.

We need to reach the next generation so that they will carry on when our generation is no longer able. To do so, we are attempting to locate photographs of all the missing. If you are reading this remembrance and have a photo and/or memory of this missing American that you would like to share for our project, please contact me at:

Candace Lokey
PO Box 206
Freeport, PA 16229
mlokey@aol.com

If you are not familiar with our organization, please visit our web site at :

www.pow-miafamilies.org

Posted by: Candace Lokey
Sunday, February 16, 2003

 

My name is Vernal Washington. I am the nephew of Robert. He left behind two daughters, a wife, sisters, and brothers, and a mother. We all love him and think of him a lot. My children will know of him.
We Love you, Uncle Robert.
Vernal

Posted by: Vernal Washington
Email: flameprint@freewwweb.com
Relationship: nephew
Monday, May 31, 1999