Rank: Warrant Officer
Unit: Headquarters & Headquarters Troop, 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 062B – Helicopter Pilot, Utility And Light Cargo Single Rotor
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Air Medal with Five Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Unit awards: Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Note: UH-1C, Tail # 66-00523, Pilot
Flight class: 68-1/67-25, Fort Wolters, Texas
Enlisted by: Reserve
Date of birth: 27-Jul-1948
Hometown: Snyder, Texas
Marital status: Married to Lana J. Rollins
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 20-Feb-1967
Start of tour: 24-Apr-1968
Incident date: 29-Sep-1968
Date of casualty: 29-Sep-1968
Age at death: 20
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Helicopter Crash — Crew (MC). Aircraft loss, crash not at sea.
William Paul Rollins died from gunshot wound received while pilot of military aircraft on reconnaissance mission when received hostile ground fire. Aircraft crashed but did not burn.
Four Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
WO Jerry Lee Harris
SP4 John James Matuska
WO William Paul Rollins
SP5 Blaine Joseph Shepherd
Location of fatality: Long Khanh, South Vietnam, YS 442 910
Place of interment: Hillside Memorial Gardens, Snyder, Texas, USA
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DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS
POSTHUMOUS
WARRANT OFFICER WO1 WILLIAM PAUL ROLLINS
25 AUGUST 1968
HEADQUARTERS AND HEADQUARTERS TROOP, 2nd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Warrant Officer Rollins distinguished himself by heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary action above and beyond the call of duty on 25 August 1968 while serving as a helicopter pilot with 2d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date while setting up a night defensive position, Troop E suddenly came under an intense barrage of small arms, automatic weapons, antitank rocket and mortar fire from a hostile force. During the ensuing firefight, an emergency call was made for resupply and Warrant Officer Rollins volunteered to fly in the critically needed ammunition and supplies. With complete disregard for his safety in the face of the intense enemy fire and rapidly approaching darkness, Warrant Officer Rollins brought in the critically needed supplies to the beleaguered troop. In all it took him eight trips to complete the resupply of Troop E, including mail and water. Due to his heroic action Troop E was able to continue with its mission and destroy the enemy elements in the area. Warrant Officer Rollins’ unwavering devotion to duty, disregard of personal safety and deep concern for the lives and welfare of his comrades in arms 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. 1880 (December 11, 1968)