Belpre City Schools honors graduate who died in Vietnam War

Board hires principal for Belpre High School

BELPRE -- The Belpre City Schools will display a flag and photo in memory of a Belpre High School graduate who died in the Vietnam War.

Thomas W. Roberts was a 1963 graduate of BHS, and enlisted in the U.S. Army as a light weapons infantryman. He began his tour of duty in Vietnam on May 14, 1968.

On Sept. 11, 1968, the Dau Tieng Base Camp, west of Ben Cui Air Strip in the Tay Ninh Province, came under attack. The 24-year-old Roberts died of his wounds while defending the base and engaging in a fire fight with enemy forces. He had been in country for less than four months.

Army Specialist 4 Roberts was given numerous awards, including the Blue Infantry Cord, Army Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation. Roberts is buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Parkersburg.

A presentation was made Thursday night before the Belpre Board of Education by members of the Belpre Area Veterans organization. A flag in Roberts' honor, as well as a framed photo and rubbing of his name from the Vietnam Wall Memorial were presented to the board.

Bill Harpold, president of the Belpre Area Veterans, said the group recently honored four Belpre-area Vietnam veterans, including Roberts, and hoped "a face may be put with the name" by displaying the items.

Board members welcomed the items and said a veterans wall has been designated at the high school and Roberts' would be placed among other Belpre High graduates who served in the military.

In other business, the board Thursday hired Samuel T. Pepper as the new principal for Belpre High School. Pepper has 27 years experience in education and said he is eager to work with the students and community.

"When I came here … that first interview was awesome. I left here thinking this is a place I would like to be," he said. "I feel like I bring a lot of good experience here."

Pepper was interviewed by board members, administrators and staff representatives, but said he was most impressed by the students who took part in the interview process.

"They told me what they wanted from a principal and that matched me best," he said. "I'm very student oriented. I believe a lot in student leadership."

Pepper begins his three-year contract July 1.

"We're excited and thrilled to have you here," said Superintendent Jeff Greenley.

Michael Erb can be contacted at merb@newsandsentinel.com.