Robert A Van Ballegooyen

Robert A. Van Ballegooyen was born in Ireton and attended Sioux Center schools. He helped his father farm before being drafted into the Army in November 1966 when he was 18 years old. PFC Van Ballegooyen arrived in Vietnam in May 1967 where he served as an Armor Reconnaissance Specialist. He also participated in Operation Pershing that cleared the Viet Cong out of tunnels and bunkers. On October 14, 1967, PFC Van Ballegooyen and his unit came under hostile fire during a search and destroy mission near Quang Nam. In order to collect more ammunition, he moved through heavy fire when he was shot and killed. A funeral service was held at the Lebanon Christian Reformed Church and his body was buried at Grace Hill Cemetery, both located in Hawarden.