Scope and Contents

Slides documenting Bob Rich's U.S. Army service as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. The materials are dated 1969.

Biographical / Historical

Robert A. Rich was born June 29th, 1949, in Youngstown, Ohio. He volunteered in 1967 for the United States Army. Rich served four years of active duty, four years in the National Guard, eighteen months in West Germany, and one year in Southeast Asia. From 1968-1969 Rich served as a first Chief Warrant Officer in Bien Hoa, Vietnam as a helicopter pilot in the 118th Assault Helicopter Company, 145th Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade. Rich participated in the Counteroffensive, Phase V and VI in 1968, the Tet Counteroffensive, and the Summer-Fall Offensive in 1969. Rich received multiple medals including air medals, a Vietnam service medal, and a Vietnam campaign medal. In 1971 Rich was discharged from active duty as a CW2 and remained in the Ohio National Guard for four years. He is a member of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association and the Michigan Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association. After his service Rich attended college in Ohio and graduated in 1974. He became a flight instructor and worked for several small airlines. Rich then joined a large airline and after several mergers and 32 years of service retired from Delta Airlines.