17 Feb 2001 Bob Richmond died a happy man - believing he was doing something worthwhile. Not only was he serving his country, but he really felt he was helping others who were doing what their service called them to do. I know this, because he was killed while on a helicopter re-supply mission the third week of his 2nd tour in Vietnam, and I was his wife for 2 years and 10 months prior to his death. We met while he was in Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, Georgia. Upon completion, he was assigned to Ft. Knox, Kentucky. His marriage proposal was (all in one breath) "I have orders for Vietnam, will you marry me?" I never hesitated, first because I loved him and second I was an "Army brat" and used to the lifestyle - both the ups and downs of that life. We married in May, '67 and he went to Vietnam in July; he was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division. A few months prior to his return to the "world", he was made Commander of the Scout Dog Platoon. Returning in July, '68, he went to Ft. Benjamin Harrison, Indiana as an executive officer. After approximately 2 months, he came home waving a "paper" shouting, "I got it, I got it! I got my orders to flight school." Of course, that was a temporary duty (TDY) situation with the orders being for Vietnam again. So soon we were on the road again for Ft. Wolters, Texas where he completed the first phase of pilot training and was promoted to Captain. For the second phase, we went to Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, Georgia. He was ecstatic and enjoyed every minute of flight and all that went with the training. About 3 months before graduation, he came home, showing disappointment, with a new piece of "paper" - his orders had been changed - this time to Korea. I asked why his disappointment and he said, "I know how much the helicopters mean to the guys on the ground and the Army has trained me at high expense and I want to go back to HELP all those folks!!" The next 6 months seemed to pass quickly and before I knew it, he was home (to Savannah) for mid-tour leave. Soon after we came from the airport, he told me he had requested to be reassigned to Vietnam and had just received approval and new orders, to be assigned to the 158th Avn. Bn. of the 101st Abn. Div. This was a source of special pride for him, because my father served in the 101st in WWII and in Vietnam for 2 tours. Our time together became VERY special and before we knew it, it was time for him to leave. Walking up the steps of the plane, he did something he had never done before - he turned around, smiled and waved. I am so thankful that my last sight of him was that gorgeous smile. He is buried at Ft. Benning and never a day passes that I don't think, "What more could anyone want for their loved one than that they die happy? Thank you, God, for giving us that mercy." Charlene Reece charreece@peoplepc.com

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall On 21 March 1970 a UH-1H, tail number 67-17648, from A Company, 158th Assault Helicopter Battalion, was shot down in Thua Thien Province. Very little is known about the incident other than the names of the crewmen and the fact that their bodies were not recovered at once. The four men were CPT Gary J. Barnett, Mission, KS, pilot; CPT Robert S. Richmond, Marcellus, MI, copilot; SSG Richard L. Ehnes, Great Falls, MT, crew chief; and SP4 Ronald W. William, Hoxie, KS, gunner. One other soldier died in a helicopter incident in Thua Thien Province that day - Staff Sergeant John P. Wanto from "A" Co, 1st Bn, 506th Infantry. He too is coded for "Died while Missing", just as are the four crewmen from 67-17648. While the evidence is circumstantial, it seems very likely that SSG Wanto was aboard 67-17648.

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