Faces Bio

Robert Francis Scherdin was born on February 14, 1947, and lived in Somerville, NJ.  He graduated from Somerville High School in 1965.

Scherdin served in the US Army and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT).  He served in the Military Assistance Command Vietnam - Special Operations Group, FOB 2 (MACV-SOG, FOB 2), Command and Control North. 

Scherdin was listed as missing in action on December 29, 1968, when he was wounded and left behind.

Synopsis (from the POW Network) as to the circumstances behind being listed as MIA:
On 29 December 1968, SSGT Robert F. Scherdin was the assistant team leader of a reconnaissance patrol in Cambodia.  The team leader, suspecting enemy activity, had taken four members of the team to check out the area.  The rear element, with Scherdin in charge, came under heavy automatic weapon fire when they were moving up to the leader's position. At that time, Scherdin was wounded.  The team leader had been informed that SSGT Scherdin had been wounded and because of the tactical situation had been left behind.

On December 30, 1968, a platoon was sent into the area to search for Scherdin but had to withdraw because of heavy enemy activity.  In January 1969, the rear element of the original team was reinserted and remained for four days.  There was no information on Scherdin because the team died in a helicopter crash shortly after their extraction. 

Scherdin is listed as missing in action as of December 29, 1968.  He was 21 years old.

Information provided by the POW Network and NJVVMF.