Remembering Capt. Robert W. Swigart on His Birthday -- KIA Vietnam Fourth of July 1967

Today would be the 82^nd birthday of Marine Captain Robert

Williams Swigart, who was killed in action in Vietnam on the Fourth of July 1967 at age 34. A career Marine, he was the son of Rear Admiral Oral Raymond Swigart Sr. At the time of his death he was married and the father of a son about seven years of age.

Capt. Swigart was Commander of India Company, 3^rd Battalion, 9^th Marines (3/9) when he was killed by small arms fire during Operation Buffalo. The 3/9 lost 15 men that day.

One of the Marines in his company wrote, “Capt. Swigart epitomized what a Marine officer should be. He demanded and received our best efforts.”

Capt. Swigart is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.