Who is Robert C. Borton?
Robert C. Borton was a Marine Private First Class who served in Vietnam with the 1st Platoon, Company K, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. On August 28, 1966 he was ordered with three other Marines (John E. Bodenschatz, Jr., Robert L. Babula, and Dennis R. Carter) to set up an ambush outside their fire base and return by 0900 hours the next morning, regardless of circumstances. None of the four returned.
A search was initiated the next day, which resulted in a few leads that didn’t turn into anything more. He was listed as missing, presumed captured by the enemy, but never repatriated at the end of hostilities. His family never knew what happened to him.
In 1995 a set of teeth was returned with the claim that grave robbers dug his body up, looted it, and left the teeth behind. Supposedly it was all that could be found of him. His family didn’t buy it, because what grave robber takes the time to extract teeth and leave them behind, taking the rest of the body? Grave robbers don’t do that, they take the loot they can get, then extract the teeth if they are filled with gold. It didn’t add up, and his family still considers him missing.
I bought a POW bracelet with his name on it on our trip to Washington a few weeks ago. Until yesterday I wore it, but I’m going to have some dog tags made with his name on it – though not as a sign of disrespect, as the details of yesterday’s adventures will make clear. Personally, I believe he is probably dead. But if so, he deserves a proper recovery, his family deserves to be comforted, and it reminds me to pray for them.
Remember the missing. Pray for them and theirs.
I have worn a K.I.A. black wrist band with his name on it for years. I never knew the story behind what happen to him until I read your listing. I also think that he is dead, But I beleave that we left people behind after the war. When I was over there in 1972 and then it ended in 1973 the rumor was that there were P.O.W’S. in other countries around Veitnam and in China. To this day I think that was ture. U.S.A.F. Retired