This specific veteran's memorial is located in the center of the breezeway between the North Tower and the South Tower of the Peachtree Center, at 225 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, Ga.
The monument is a tall geometrically shaped spire that has movable circular and curved parts to its construction and is built to about 24 feet tall from stainless steel. The top of the monument is visible from Peachtree Street when passing towers of Peachtree Center Mall from that street. The large bronze plaque at the bottom of the memorial states the following:
"In Memory of
CWO Robert N. Sauls
United States Army
Killed in action 11 March 1969 Republic of Vietnam
Awarded our Nation's second highest medal
The Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism
while under seige he directed gunships against the enemy and repeatedly
braved hostile fire to save many lives
Dedicated by the Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association of Atlanta
on behalf of all who served their country. 18 May 1989"
According to the Wikipedia entry on Chief Warrent Officers, "In the United States military, the rank of warrant officer (grade W-1 to CW-5) is rated as an officer above the senior-most enlisted ranks, as well as officer cadets and candidates, but below the officer grade of O-1 (NATO: OF-1). Warrant officers are highly skilled, single-track specialty officers, and while the ranks are authorized by Congress, each branch of the uniformed services selects, manages, and utilizes warrant officers in slightly different ways. For appointment to warrant officer one (W-1), a warrant is approved by the secretary of the respective service. For chief warrant officer ranks (W-2 to W-5), warrant officers are commissioned by the President of the United States and take the same oath as regular commissioned officers (O-1 to O-10).
Warrant officers can and do command detachments, units, activities, vessels, aircraft, and armored vehicles as well as lead, coach, train, and counsel subordinates. However, the warrant officer's primary task as a leader is to serve as a technical expert, providing valuable skills, guidance, and expertise to commanders and organizations in their particular field."
A Google search for CWO Robert N Sauls showed information on a CWO Robert Ned Sauls who did die in Vietnam on 11 March 1969. The search entries indicated Robert Ned Sauls was serving in the Army Artillary 8th Battalion, at the time he was killed in action. Robert N Sauls was a CWO who gave his life for his country, and more importantly, gave his life in order to save his fellow countrymen with whom he served, regarless of his branch of service. The fact that he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross speaks for itself about the patriotism displayed by this fallen veteran.
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