OUR HERO

Comments and Pictures by Ray Heltzel:

Robert was an excellent gunner and so was Osborn. Bollman had four children and he loved them very much and was always quick to show you a picture. He was from Chickasha OK and was proud of having some native American blood. Robert made friends easy and always had a big smile no matter what the topic. He just wanted the war to be over with and to go back home. He was a gentle kind of a guy. For the record, Sgt. Hicks and Sgt. Williams were severely wounded the same day Bollman, Pruett, Borczynski, Hayes, and Trotter were Killed in Action. Sgt. Deschenes was killed approximately 6 weeks later. I realize many more were wounded at that time and we'll figure it all out in time.

Comments by Ray Heltzel:

Robert was KIA on 9-26-68 along with James Pruett, Danny Hayes, Dick Trotter and Fred Borcynski. What I hop the world will remember most about Robert was his good mood at all times. Not a negative bone in his body. I never heard a cross work or a mean utterance from this man. His delight was his family and I believe he had 4 children and was quick to talk about them. All Robert wanted was to go home to his family. Robert was proud of his Native American Heritage and proud of the fact that he was No. 1 gunner. He should have received Sgt. for that position. Jerry Forgue was Roberts assistant gunner and received a severe concussion on 9-26-68 from an RPG. Several weeks after 9-26-68 FF we managed to round up 7 or 8 POWs one had Roberts ID card. That was another tough day but the Geneva convention rules were followed. Ray L Heltzel Sgt. third platoon. Robert was from Chickasha Oklahoma. God Bless your gentle soul.

Comments by Johnny Hutcherson:

My name is Johnny Hutcherson. My crew and I medevac three men out of a hot L.Z. on 9-26-68. We were hit with heavy ground fire and crashed a mile from P.Z. One man was Black, one man had a chest wound and one man was a SSG. We were on the ground for a few hours. Air strikes were called in. At sun set we were Picked -up from L.Z. I often think of that day and would like to know if you have any information on the wounded we picked up or the fire fight. Did the man with the chest wound live? I do know we were shot down in Kien Tuong a little after 1PM. I don't know if your friend Robert was one of these men or if he was in same fire fight? I was with D Troop 3/5 Air- Cavalry, as a Door Gunner UH-1D helicopter.

Hutch


Robert Bollman (foreground), Bob Wilson, and Fred Borczynski (drink in hand).	Robert Bollman (rear), Bob Wilson, and Fred Borczynski (towel around his neck).