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In Memory of U.S. Marine Lance Corporal

Robert Vincent Reker

Jasper, Minnesota/Sherman, South Dakota, Rock County/Minnehaha County

 July 20, 1948 – June 13, 1969

Killed in Action in Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam

(Note: Although the Reker family had a rural Sherman, South Dakota, address, there is little doubt that Robert considered himself a Minnesotan. We will only briefly profile him here in deference to the wishes of his surviving family.)

Robert Vincent “Bob” Reker was born on July 20, 1948, to Sylvester and Elaine (Petersen) Reker, at Luverne, Minnesota. He had three sisters, Diane (Nelson), Nancy (Lange), and Laurie who preceded him in death, and two brothers, Donald and John. Robert attended schools in Jasper, Minnesota, graduating from high school in 1966. After high school, Robert attended St. John’s University at Collegeville, Minnesota for two years before he entered the service.

Robert Reker enlisted in the Marine Corps on July 17, 1968, and completed his basic training at San Diego, California. He went on to Vietnamese language school at Monterey, California before being sent overseas circa April of 1969, stationed with M Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines.

On June 13, 1969, Lance Corporal Robert Vincent Reker was killed in action near An Hoa Combat Base, Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam. His body was recovered and returned to the United States. He was buried with military honors at St. Joseph’s Cemetery at Jasper, Minnesota.

This entry was respectfully initiated by Stanley County Middle School, Fort Pierre, and completed by Sheila Hansen, teacher, Spearfish Middle School, June 16, 2006. Information for this entry was provided by <www.combatwife.net/memreker.htm>.