Rank: Master Sergeant
Unit: Headquarters & Headquarters Troop, 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 00Z – Command Sergeant Major
Awards: Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device and Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device and Three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Good Conduct Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army of Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal with Star Device, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge
Unit awards: Valorous Unit Award, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Note: UH-1B, Passenger
Enlisted by: Regular
Date of birth: 25-Jan-1931
Hometown: Pasadena, Maryland
Marital status: Married to Rebecca B. Bolan, two sons, two daughters
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 19-Jan-1949
Start of tour: 5-Aug-1969
Incident date: 24-Jul-1970
Date of casualty: 24-Jul-1970
Age at death: 39
Cause of death: Hostile, Died. Helicopter Crash — Passenger (MC). Aircraft loss, crash not at sea.
Robert Louis Bolan was killed while a passenger on a military aircraft on a military mission when the aircraft was fired upon by a hostile ground force and crashed but did not burn.
Location of fatality: Bien Hoa, South Vietnam, XT 919 229
Place of interment: Saint Francis Cemetery, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
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SILVER STAR
MASTER SERGEANT ROBERT LOUIS BOLAN
5 MAY 1970
HEADQUARTERS & HEADQUARTERS TROOP, 2nd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Master Sergeant Bolan distinguished himself for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 5 May 1970 while serving as Command Sergeant Major with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Master Sergeant Bolan accompanied elements of the squadron on a reconnaissance mission through areas of known enemy activity near the Cambodian village of Snoul. He spotted three North Vietnamese soldiers near a machinegun emplacement. Realizing that they were detected, the insurgents ran for their defensive positions. Master Sergeant Bolan dismounted his vehicle and assaulted the enemy position, destroying one of the enemy and capturing the machinegun. When the other two soldiers attempted to stay in their position, Master Sergeant Bolan fired upon them with bursts from his personal weapon, eliminating both of them. Master Sergeant Bolan’s actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam, General Orders No. 2665 (1970)
DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS
POSTHUMOUS
MASTER SERGEANT ROBERT LOUIS BOLAN
13 APRIL 1970
HEADQUARTERS & HEADQUARTERS TROOP, 2nd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Master Sergeant Bolan distinguished himself for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary action above and beyond the call of duty on 13 April 1970 while serving as Command Sergeant Major with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Sergeant Bolan was in the Command and Control helicopter as it flew a visual reconnaissance mission, when the craft suddenly came under intense enemy automatic weapons fire. Sergeant Bolan, disregarding his own safety, leaned half-way out of the helicopter in an attempt to locate the enemy’s exact position. After pinpointing their location he relayed the information to the squadron commander, who immediately began calling in artillery upon the enemy. Sergeant Bolan then directed the fire of the door gunner until the enemy fire was suppressed. Throughout the entire engagement he assisted the squadron commander in directing the ground troops, thus contributing significantly to a complete rout of the enemy. Master Sergeant Bolan’s action were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam, General Orders No. 3759 (September 14, 1970)
BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
SECOND OAK LEAF CLUSTER
MASTER SERGEANT ROBERT LOUIS BOLAN
21 APRIL 1970
HEADQUARTERS AND HEADQUARTERS TROOP, 2nd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Master Sergeant Bolan distinguished himself by heroism in connection with ground operations against a hostile force on 21 April 1970 while serving as Command Sergeant Major with the 2d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date Fire Support Base Burkett came under an intense rocket-propelled grenade, mortar, rocket, and automatic weapons attack from a company of North Vietnamese Regulars. Disregarding his awn safety, Sergeant Bolan left the relative safety of his Command and Control point and ran through the shrapnel torn base to check each individual vehicle, to inspire and rally his men, and also to assure that all rounded personnel received medical attention. Throughout the entire battle Sergeant Bolan continually risked his life to ensure the security of the unit and his men. Master Sergeant Bolan’s actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam General Orders No. 2854 (6 July 1970)
BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
OAK LEAF CLUSTER
MASTER SERGEANT ROBERT LOUIS BOLAN
5 DECEMBER 1969
HEADQUARTERS AND HEADQUARTERS TROOP, 2nd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Master Sergeant Bolan distinguished himself by heroism in connection with ground operations against a hostile force on 5 December 1969 while serving as Squadron Operations Sergeant with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date while flying a visual reconnaissance mission, Sergeant Bolan received a radio call informing him that elements of Troop G had encountered an enemy force. The troop was receiving intense rocket-propelled grenade, small arms and automatic weapons fire from the enemy and incurring numerous casualties. Two soldiers required immediate medical evacuation due to their serious wounds. Sergeant Bolan’s craft maneuvered through rubber trees and enemy ground fire to attempt the rescue. Sergeant Bolan volunteered to remain on the ground so that both wounded personnel could board the craft. While on the ground providing suppressive fire with his personal weapon he retrieved some valuable enemy documents. Sergeant Bolan returned to the landing zone and continued placing fire upon the enemy until the helicopter returned to extract him from the area. Master Sergeant Bolan’s actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam General Orders No. 2316 (1 June 1970)
ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
FIRST SERGEANT ROBERT LOUIS BOLAN
2 FEBRUARY 1967
HEADQUARTERS AND HEADQUARTERS TROOP, 1st SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
First Sergeant Bolan distinguished himself by heroism on 2 February 1967 while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Sergeant Bolan was riding in a vehicle which was conducting a tactical mounted road march to the squadron combat base when a vehicle behind him hit a mine and burst into flames. Immediately realizing the danger of ambush and the vulnerability of the column, he left the relative safety of his vehicle and sprinted back to the burning truck to organize 1is men to repel the attack. At this time, the enemy began placing small arms fire on the column near the flaming vehicle. Disregarding his own personal safety, First Sergeant Bolan rapidly organized the men and supervised the evacuation of the wounded soldiers. Forcefully, he directed the fire of his men until a relief column of armored vehicles arrived and dispersed the insurgents. First Sergeant Bolan’s leadership and courage were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam General Orders No. 1019 (26 June 1967)