Robert Wendell Gilliam

Specialist Five
129TH AHC, 10TH AVN BN, 17TH AVN GRP, 1 AVN BDE
Army of the United States
04 January 1945 - 07 October 1966
Lompoc, California
Panel 11E Line 057

1 AVN BDE

129TH AHC
UH-1 HUEY

Army Aircrew

Purple Heart, Air Medal, National Defense, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign

The database page for Robert Wendell Gilliam

03 Jan 2003

Happy Birthday tomorrow, Robert. Your friends at the 129th will be thinking about you and remembering times with you. We know you are at peace. Keep the helicopter flying and be ready to pick us up when it is our time. God Bless.

From a friend of the 129th AHC,
Gently



07 Oct 2005

I'll see you at the "Wall" tonight, 39 years after you were KIA trying to help your brothers. RIP. Gently

From a friend,
Judith Singer
7221 W. Bluemound Road, Milw. Wi 53213
gentlyjs@yahoo.com

06 Jan 2003

ROBERT

Wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday. It's been 37 years since we were together. Just wanted you to know that we of the 129th AHC will also remember you and the rest that gave it all.

Always A Brother.
Alex Fernwalt
129th AHC 1965-68
afernwal@midsouth.rr.com

02 Jan 2004

Butch -- The times we knew in Spain are long ago now -- 45 years and more. The ever-shifting world of Air Force brats brought together and then separated our lives. Still, I had always held to the notion we might cross paths again. I did not imagine it would be like this. So, for you, I offer the words the Canadian Legion uses to commemorate the war dead:

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Vaya con dios, amigo.

From a high school friend,
Robert French
pataphysician2000@yahoo.ca

16 Apr 2005

Butch was my buddy in high school,
a real "guy" buddy.

I went to the Moving Wall in Arizona today and did a rubbing of your name.

We went to Lompoc High and were in the school play together and I have never forgotten our friendship of 43 years ago and never will. You had a special sparkle and keen wit which will live forever in friends.

From a friend,
Zoe Jussel (Carole Libert in school)
Bisbee, Arizona
paws4me@cableone.net

A Note from The Virtual Wall

From the official history of the 129th Assault Helicopter Company:
"We flew a combat assault for the 2/327 on 7 October and it was a very smooth operation. However, upon our return to base camp at Tuy Hoa the company was shocked and saddened to hear that four of our comrades had been killed that afternoon. A gun ship (UH-1B HUEY hull number 64-13932) was shot down on an independent mission between Dong Ba Thin and Phan Rang while engaging an enemy .50 caliber machine gun which had a friendly unit pinned down with its deadly fire. Killed were Captain Whetzel, WO Chamberlain, SP/5 Gilliam and PFC Neal. They truly exemplified the fighting spirit of the 129th Assault Helicopter Company by engaging in a deed above and beyond the call of duty while giving their all to support the ground troops."

The other three men named above are



The point-of-contact for this memorial is
a friend of the 129th AHC,
Gently
gentlyjs@yahoo.com
3 Jan 2003



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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Last updated 10/10/2005