Robert Franklin Steele

Robert Franklin Steele was raised in the rural Van Buren County town of Selma. He attended and graduated from Cardinal Community High School. He was drafted by the Army and trained as an infantryman. SP5 Steele was sent to Vietnam in December 1969 and assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division. On June 19, 1970 SP5 Steele was killed while conducting military operations in the country of Cambodia. It took several days to retrieve the bodies of Steele and others due to the presence of heavily armed enemy in the area. Steele was 20 years old at the time of his death and he was posthumously promoted to Sergeant.