Cordova, Robert James, BTFA

This Sailor has an (IMO) Memory Of Headstone in Courts of the Missing, Honolulu, Hawaii

I was the coxswain on duty when Robert was lost. We went into the water at the call. The sea was very rough that night; we were taking 10 to 15 foot swells. We could not move fast in the water as it was breaking over the bow of the small boat we were in. A Marine had gone over the side to help Robert as he saw him go by. We saw the helicopter pick up the Marine and thought that he was the only one in the water. We started picking up life jackets and the floating light that is thrown over on every "man overboard" call. Then we got word via radio there was another person in the water.

We set up a search pattern starting from the place he was known to have gone overboard. The ship turned on its spotlight to help us in the search. We were also getting flares above us from the Marines on the beach. We searched most of the night in the small boat. Everyone was soaking wet with salt water and very cold. They finally recalled us to the ship. During our search the only thing we found was his leather glove. It had his name on the inside of the cuff. Those of us on the boat crew were ready to stay as long as we needed to, but we were called off. As we pulled along side the ship the water was picking us up then dropping us. When we got under the hook we were lifted very quickly up 10 feet or so by the sea. The hook came down and hit one of the crew members in the head. He got a big gash but was back on duty the next day.

Robert is often in my thoughts as I ponder the days of my youth. During my four years in the Navy I was able to return 12 men back to duty who had gone overboard or went down in helicopters. We only lost one other person beside Robert and that was a Marine in a helicopter that went down a couple miles from the ship. We saved all on board except one. I often wonder about the ones we were able to save and how their lives turned out. One thing is certain - Robert won't be forgotten by me or the crew that searched for him that night. rrodgersr@netscape

At the time of Fireman Apprentice Cordova's loss, USS VALLEY FORGE was on station off Dong Hoi, SVN, where she provided necessary resupply and MedEvac support for Allied troops operating against communist forces. Operation "Badger Catch" commenced on 23 January 1968 and extended through 18 February, with VALLEY FORGE operating off the Cua Viet River, south of the DMZ.