On Feb. 22, 1968, during the 77-day Siege of Khe Sanh, Robert crouched in a trench with a group of Marines waiting for a helicopter to take them back to battalion headquarters. He prepared to board, but at the last minute gave up his spot to a Marine who transported mail to the troops. Robert said he would catch the next chopper and headed back to the trench. Moments later, it was hit by a 122-millimeter rocket. He died instantly, along with seven others.