BOLSTAD, RICHARD E.

Name: Richard E. Bolstad
Rank/Branch: United States Air Force/O3
Unit:
Date of Birth: 07 July 1929
Home City of Record: Minneapolis MN
Date of Loss: 06 November 1965
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 200600 North 1053000 East
Status (in 1973): Returnee
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: A1E
Missions:
USMC during Korea - Inchon landing, Wonson landing, Chosin
Reservoir, Pusan.
Other Personnel in Incident:
Refno: 0187

Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK from one or more of the following: raw
data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA
families, published sources, interviews.

REMARKS: 730212 Released by DRV

SOURCE: WE CAME HOME copyright 1977
Captain and Mrs. Frederic A Wyatt (USNR Ret), Barbara Powers Wyatt, Editor
P.O.W. Publications, 10250 Moorpark St., Toluca Lake, CA 91602
Text is reproduced as found in the original publication (including date and
spelling errors).

RICHARD EUGENE BOLSTAD
Lieutenant Colonel - United States Air Force, pilot
Shot Down: November 6, 1965
Released: February 12, 1973
Others in Incident: none
Unit: 602 ACS
Missions: uncounted in the South - 33 over NVN

I entered the military in the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve December 1948 and
was called to active duty in August 1950 for the Korean War. I was assigned
to the 1st Marine Division making the landing at Inchon, Korea. In Korea, I
received the Purple Heart.

After being released from active duty, I worked until I was accepted in the
USAF Aviation Cadet program in June 1955. I received my wings and commission
in September 1956. I spent four years flying the F-lOOC at a base in
Holland. Then I was transferred to Myrtle Beach AFB, South Carolina where I
again flew the F-100.

In August 1964 I volunteered for duty in Vietnam flying an A-lE which is a
propeller driven late World War ll vintage Navy developed aircraft. I
arrived at Bien Hoa, South Vietnam on 31 March 1965. There I trained South
Vietnamese pilots to fly the A-1 E aircraft. This was 40% of my mission. The
rest of the time I flew close air support missions in support of ground
forces - a job which I loved. October 1965 found me home on leave in
Minneapolis where I became engaged to my wife, Helen -- her nickname is
"Sissy"--who I met and dated at Myrtle Beach for a year before I left there.
Upon return from leave I flew rescue support missions in North Vietnam when
I was shot down on 6 November 1965 in an A-1E. I was released on 12 February
1973 and returned to Clark AB in the Philippines.

I feel extremely fortunate that during these seven years, plus, that Sissy
waited for me to return. She somehow had the faith and courage and a deeply
rooted love that can never be explained in words. Her seven years were much
more difficult than mine. We were married on St. Patrick's Day (March
17,1973) in a Catholic Church at Ocean Drive Beach, South Carolina. We spent
a wonderful honeymoon at Maui, Hawaii and are now enjoying life to its
fullest.

The doctors at Scott AFB, Illinois gave me a clean bill of health and I have
been assigned to attend Air War College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, commencing
this August. With twenty-four years of service I intend to stay in the Air
Force and while at AWC I will pursue a strong desire to complete my
education and obtain a Bachelor's Degree in Business. I will remain in the
service of my country as long as they feel I am of some use.

November 1996
Richard Bolstad retired from the United States Air Force as a Colonel. He
and Sissy reside in Virginia.

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