Sgt. Rayger Glenn Roberts

Sgt. Rayger Glenn Roberts (MIA), born March 31, 1919, in Taylor’s Valley, VA, to the late Oliver and Maddie (Holdaway) Roberts. Sgt. Roberts was declared legally deceased in December 1953. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his older sister, Hazel Roberts, in 1918. After enlisting in the Army, Sgt. Roberts fought along with Gen. Patton in the European theater and was also involved in the landing at Normandy on D-Day. After the end of WWII, he made the choice to reenlist and was shipped to North Korea, where he was assigned to M Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. During the last week of October 1950, Republic of Korea (ROK) Army forces under the control of the U.S. Eighth Army were advancing deep in North Korean territory, approaching the Yalu River on the Chinese-Korean border. Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) struck back in a surprise attack, engaging the ROK 1st and 6th Divisions near Unsan, some sixty miles north of Pyongyang. The U.S. 1st Cavalry Division, with the 8th Cavalry Regiment in the lead, was rushed forward to reinforce the ROK units in the Unsan area. On November 1, the regiment’s 1st Battalion took up positions north of Unsan, while the 2nd Battalion moved to guard the Nammyon River valley west of town, and the 3rd Battalion was placed in reserve at the valley’s southern end. By midnight on November 1, 1950, the 8th Cavalry Regiment was forced to withdraw from the Unsan area to avoid encirclement by the enemy. The 3rd Battalion was the last to withdraw and was surrounded and cut off by the CCF. They formed a defensive perimeter and withstood attacks for the next few days before survivors either broke out to avoid capture or surrendered. Unfortunately, Sergeant Roberts went missing in action during this battle. He is still listed as MIA. Sgt. Roberts left behind three daughters: Carolyn (Roberts) Rice, Nancy (Roberts) Heroit, and Evelyn (Roberts) Gemma. As well as several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A memorial military service will be held at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, June 6, 2026, at Browder’s Cemetery in Madisonville, KY, with Fort Campbell Color Guard presiding. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Tunnels to Towers, Paralyzed Veterans of America, or the Western Kentucky Veterans Center in Hanson, KY.