Robert Reade (Sonny) Thruston, III

Male 1940 - 1964  (24 years)


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  • Name Robert Reade (Sonny) Thruston 
    Suffix III 
    Born 27 Aug 1940  Fairfax Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 18 Dec 1964  KIA Vietnam Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried Memorial Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • MILITARY DATA
      Service: Army of the United States
      Grade at loss: W1
      Rank: Warrant Officer
      ID No: W3151978
      MOS: 062B: Helicopter Pilot, Utility and Light Cargo Single Rotor
      Length Service: 04
      Unit: 117TH AHC, 145TH AVN BN, US ARMY SPT CMD VIETNAM, MACV

      CASUALTY DATA
      Start Tour: 09/15/1964
      Incident Date: 12/18/1964
      Casualty Date: 12/18/1964
      Age at Loss: 24
      Location: Khanh Hoa Province, South Vietnam
      Remains: Body recovered
      Casualty Type: Hostile, died outright
      Casualty Reason: Helicopter - Pilot
      Casualty Detail: Air loss or crash over land

      NOTES FROM THE VIETNAM MEMORIAL WALL

      Panel 01E Line 077

      Bob,
      You had a generous heart and the best spirit. You came back in my memories and we are still great friends. I still have a photo of the car you helped me buy that we drove from Ft Wolters to Ft Rucker.
      See you again one of these days. You were a good pilot.
      Posted by: Major E Weber, CW5 Ret
      Email: airborne@planetmajor.com
      Relationship: We served together
      Tuesday, May 1, 2007

      Bob was killed flying a recon just west of Nha Trang that morning. I was left seat. He was right.
      Posted by: P.Cary Shelton
      Email: pcaryshelton@gmail.com
      Relationship: We served together
      Wednesday, August 18, 2010

      This ship and crew had been TDY to Ban Me Thuot prior to this mission. I was the CE on this ship. We had flown to Nha Trang. We had an ARVN General and an ARVN Captain as passengers plus two US Army LTCs. The mission was to recon the area around the base. We had just taken off. I'd estimate we were about 2 miles from the airbase and still at a low altitude. A single 45 caliber round came through the windshield and hit WO1 Thruston in the head and killed him immediately. It removed part of his head and his flight helmet. WO1 Phillip C. Shelton took control of aircraft and landed back at Nha Trang. Recounted by CE E5 Robert K. Paik. [Taken from vhpa.org]
      Posted by:
      Email: wkillian@smjuhsd.org
      Relationship:
      Friday, November 26, 2010

      Philip Shelton
      pcaryshelton@gmail.com
      His Co-Pilot 18 Dec 1964
      10205 Locklies Dr Glen Allen VA 23060 USA
      Saluting Bob
      Let the record state that we did not crash-close-but I flew the Huey back to Nha Trang after he was killed. Bob was the only casualty amongst a crew of 4 plus 4 pax.
      Aug 2, 2011
    Person ID I32094  Master File
    Last Modified 8 Nov 2015 

    Father Robert Reade Thruston, Jr.,   b. 02 May 1914, Clopton, Gloucester Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 12 Jun 1989, Fairax Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 75 years) 
    Mother Beatrice Virginia Rowe,   b. 15 Nov 1919, Augusta Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 14 May 2014, Waynesboro, VA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 94 years) 
    Married 29 Aug 1939  Staunton, VA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Virginia, Marriages, 1936-2014. Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, Virginia.
      Name: Beatrice Virginia Rowe
      Gender: Female
      Race: White
      Age: 19
      Birth Date: abt 1920
      Marriage Date: 29 Aug 1939
      Marriage Place: Staunton, Virginia
      Registration Place: Augusta, Virginia
      Father: Amos S Rowe
      Mother: Sadie Nicely
      Spouse: Robert Reade Thruston
      Spouse Gender: Male
      Spouse Race: White
      Spouse Age: 25
      Spouse Father: Robert Reade Thruston
      Spouse Mother: Caroline Olive
    Family ID F13462  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart