|  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): Released Prisoner Of War 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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