Robert Reade (Sonny) Thruston, III

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


Buried:
Memorial with obituary and military records:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=74347923