Steven Ernest Arnold

The database page for Steven Ernest Arnold

15 May 2003 Steven E. Arnold was drafted into the U.S. Army while married and living in Holden, Missouri. Steve was born Oct. 2, 1948 and was killed in Quang Tri, South Vietnam on Sunday, Oct. 5, 1969. Steve was the second loss to our small town from the Vietnam War, and it was a very sad day when his parents and family and all of the community of Holden received word of his loss. Steve was a Combat Medic and died in a chopper crash on a stormy night going to pick up a wounded comrade. Steve was 2 years older than me but I knew him well and considered him a friend. I remember he always had a smile on his face, one I will always remember. Steve was a very well liked boy by everyone who knew him. His family owned a store called "Holden Sundries" which had a restaurant in the back and a lot of the kids use to hang out there after school. I also knew his parents and family real well and they really miss Steve, still today they will put a remembrance in the local Holden Newspaper on his birthday. I talked with Steve's Mother and she said that Steve's unit in Vietnam use to call him "Screamin' Jesus" because when he would leave on a mission he would scream to have that hootch clean by the time he got back. She also told me he was with the 326th Medical Battalion Air Ambulance as a Combat Medic, attached to the 101st Airborne Division. She said when he got a chance that he really loved to go visit the orphans and give them bubble gum that she had sent him. Steve's Mother, Wilma, told me Steve received the Bronze Star Medal w/OLC, Air Medal with 5 OLCs , Vietnam Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Combat Medic Badge, and 2 Marksman Badges. Steve, we all miss you, especially your Mother and your family and thanks so much for our freedom. From a friend, Frank Hobbs SP4, Combat Medic fhobbs@peoplepc.com

25 Apr 2004 I have never known you, and don't know what to say, but what I do know is that I will pray, for your family, because I'm sure that losing you, was one of the hardest things to do. From Jennifer seatpea9@cs.com

12 Nov 2006 Steven's mother passed away. (11-12-06 Kansas City Star) David Eskelin Raytown, Mo semi_crazy61@hotmail.com

A Note from The Virtual Wall At about 0500 on 5 October the medevac center at Mai Loc received a request from Fire Base Scotch to pick up two American soldiers who had been seriously injured in a bunker cave-in. The 326th Med alert helicopter crew at Mai Loc was briefed for a night flight in bad weather, and the medevac pilot requested that a Huey flare ship accompany him to provide illumination for the pick-up. The medevac Huey was crewed by WO1 Orval Arthur Baldwin, pilot WO1 Rocky D. Armstead, copilot SP5 Steven Ernest Arnold, medic SP5 Hubert Daniel Sutton, crew chief The flare ship departed first and once airborne received a call from the medevac UH-1H (tail number 67-19515) indicating that the weather was hampering their flight. The medevac returned to Mai Loc and began the flight to FB Scotch over again, only to fail once more in penetrating the weather. While returning to Mai Loc to await sunrise before a third try, the aircraft commander elected to fly at very low altitude in an effort to operate below the clouds. The aircraft apparently rolled inverted and crashed, possibly as a result of weather-induced vertigo. All four men died in the crash. Visit John Dennison's Medics on the Wall memorial which honors the Army Medics and Navy Corpsmen who died in Vietnam.

The point-of-contact for this memorial is a friend, Frank Hobbs SP4, Combat Medic fhobbs@peoplepc.com

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 15 May 2003
Last updated 05/06/2007