Grand Island in Erie County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Robert B. Luther
October 9, 1948 - May 10, 1970
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 4, 2022
1. Robert B. Luther Marker
Corporal (Cpl) Robert B. Luther, a native Grand Islander, was drafted into the Army on June 21, 1969, served six months in Vietnam, and died on Mother's Day, May 10, 1970.
Cpl Luther's unit, the First Battalion, 5th Mechanized Division, broke out from a 43 day siege at Base Fuller, a mountain top camp, called "Hell". Enemy fire pursued them 5 miles down the mountain, hitting a helicopter which crashed, killing all six Americans on board and one on the ground. Cpl Luther was struck by the falling aircraft near Khe Go Bridge.
Cpl Luther was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Service, the Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnamese Service and Campaign Medals and the Combat Infantry Badge.
Cpl Luther was laid to rest at Trinity United Methodist Church, Grand Island, New York, May 23, 1970.
Erected 2021 by Grand Island VFW Memorial Post 9249, Grand Island American Legion and Grand Island Moose Lodge 180.
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • War, Vietnam. A significant historical date for this entry is May 10, 1970.
Location. 43° 1.545′ N, 78° 57.97′ W. Marker is on Grand Island, New York, in Erie County. Memorial is at the intersection of Grand Island
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Edward P. Pierce (here, next to this marker); William S. Gillen (here, next to this marker); Charles N. DeGlopper (here, next to this marker); Howard W. Salton (here, next to this marker); George E. Smith (here, next to this marker); Eugene F. Dinsmore (here, next to this marker); Francis K. Goodchild (here, next to this marker); Charles A. Smith (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grand Island.
Also see . . . DeGlopper Memorial. (Submitted on May 8, 2022, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 4, 2022
2. Grand Island Roll of Honored Dead
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 4, 2022
3. Monument and Markers at the DeGlopper Memorial
Credits. This page was last revised on May 8, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 8, 2022, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 76 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 8, 2022, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 2, 3. submitted on May 7, 2022, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
