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ARMSTEAD, ROCKY D
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Casualty
Record
Rank / Branch:
WO1, U.S.ARMY
Unit:
101ST AIRBORNE DIVIS
Date of Birth:
1946-03-30
Country
of Loss:
SOUTH VIETNAM
Loss
Coordinates:
QUANG TRI
Status:
NON-HOSTILE AIR CRASH
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground:
HELICOPTER UH-1H
Awards & Decorations:
SEE BIO
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Veteran
Hagiography
ROCKY D. ARMSTEAD, WARRANT OFFICER, U.S. ARMY, MONAHANS, WARD COUNTY, TEXAS
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Aviator Wings, Bronze Star, Air Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal
BIOGRAPHY
Rocky D. Armstead was born in Pampa, Texas, the third son born to Mickey McDaniels and James W. Armstead. He had two older brothers, a younger brother and sister, his oldest brother was from his father's previous marriage. His family moved to Midland, Texas where the fourth son and a daughter were born. Rocky attended Midland elementary schools and then to Monahans when Rocky started junior high school. Rocky was a 1964 graduate of Monahans High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1968 after attending college and working. He completed basic training at Fort Polk, Louisiana. He was accepted in the Warrant Officer Rotary Wing Flight Program. He completed his primary helicopter flight training at Fort Wolters, Texas, Class 69-7 A-1 and his advanced Rotary Wing Flight Training at Fort Rucker, Alabama. At the conclusion of the flight training, he was commissioned as a Warrant Officer-WO1.
Warrant Officer Flight School, Ft. Wolters, Texas-1968
He began his tour in Vietnam on July 3, 1969. He was assigned to the 326th Medical Company, 101st Airborne Division as a medevac pilot. On October 5, 1969, he was the co-pilot of a UH-1H, tail number 69-19516. The aircraft was inbound to Mai Loc from an aborted medevac mission when the aircraft went IFR at night during bad weather. Both pilots possibly suffered vertigo. The aircraft crashed and the crew perished.
WO1 Armstead was buried with full military honors in Monahans City Cemetary in Monahans, Texas. He was survived by his parents of Monahans and his brothers, Darrell, James and Kim and his sister, Randi. His parents later moved to Big Spring, Texas to live closer to two of their sons, James and Kim. His older 1/2 brother Darrell had been living in Medord, Oregon before he passed away. His parents and his brothers, James Mac have since passed away. His parents are buried next to him. His surviving brother, Kim, lives in Big Spring and his sister, Randi Turnan lives in Kennedale, Texas.
Monahans City Cemetery, Monahans, Texas
VIRTUAL WALL
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