Robert J. Wade was born on May 3, 1939. His home of record is Stratford, NJ. He had two sisters. Robert attended John Paul Jones Junior High School and worked at a clothing plant. He enjoyed dancing. He was married with one daughter.

He enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1956, and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT). He spent time on assignment in Hawaii. While doing so, he gained a love of water sports and took up surfing and scuba diving. He was also stationed in Spain, Puerto Rico and the Philippines.

In Vietnam, he was a platoon sergeant with Company A, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division.

Wade was killed in action on February 25, 1967, in Thua Thien Province, after being lured into a Viet Cong booby trap.

Sources: Various websites and NJVVMF.