Gunnery Sgt. Robert L. Gilbert II, 28, of Richfield, Ohio, died March 16, 2010 of wounds sustained on March 8th while supporting combat operations in Badghis province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion, Marine Special Operations Regiment, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command.
Rob was severely wounded while on patrol in the village of Burida, Afghanistan. He was a key member of his Marine Special Operations Team due to his maturity, courage and natural leadership ability. The team was emotionally devastated the day we had to MEDEVAC Rob from the battlefield. It was the last time we saw him and left an emptiness in all of the team members’ hearts. He passed away 8 days later on his 28thbirthday with his father Bob Gilbert by his side. “I was there for his first breathe and there for is last”, his father said. The team was crushed when they received the news about Rob’s death. MSOT 8222 honored him by stepping back out on patrol that day; back into the unforgiving battlespace of the Bala Morghab River Valley. It’s what Rob would have wanted.
GySgt. Robert L. Gilbert – Never Above You, Never Below You, Always Beside You!
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Gunnery Sgt. Robert L. Gilbert II, 28, of Richfield, Ohio, died March 16, 2010 of wounds sustained on March 8th while supporting combat operations in Badghis province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion, Marine Special Operations Regiment, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command.
Rob was severely wounded while on patrol in the village of Burida, Afghanistan. He was a key member of his Marine Special Operations Team due to his maturity, courage and natural leadership ability. The team was emotionally devastated the day we had to MEDEVAC Rob from the battlefield. It was the last time we saw him and left an emptiness in all of the team members’ hearts. He passed away 8 days later on his 28thbirthday with his father Bob Gilbert by his side. “I was there for his first breathe and there for is last”, his father said. The team was crushed when they received the news about Rob’s death. MSOT 8222 honored him by stepping back out on patrol that day; back into the unforgiving battlespace of the Bala Morghab River Valley. It’s what Rob would have wanted.
GySgt. Robert L. Gilbert – Never Above You, Never Below You, Always Beside You!
Please help and support MARSOC’s wounded warriors and surviving family members by visiting MARSOC Foundation to learn more.
(Top photo: GySgt. Robert L. Gilbert on patrol in Bala Morghab, Afghanistan 2010)
Dedicated to the loving memory and sacrifice of GySgt. Robert L. Gilbert & SSgt. Patrick R. Dolphin
Michael Golembesky is a former JTAC with 2D Marine Special Operations Battalion (MSOB) and author.
Level Zero Heroes | The Story of U.S. Marine SOF in Bala Morghab, Afghanistan
Official Website: www.levelzeroheroes.com
Email: levelzeroheroes {at} gmail {dot} com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Level-Zero-Heroes/181443145240222
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