Robert Wayne Fields

The database page for Robert Wayne Fields

21 Apr 2002 Remembered by his squadronmates in the 20th Special Operations Squadron the Green Hornets. From a fellow Green Hornet, Robert Hall Robert.Hall12@scott.af.mil

05 Feb 2004 Robert Wayne Fields was my uncle, even though I never got to meet him, I still love him, and I wish he was still alive, and I'm very VERY proud of him!!!! From a niece, Erica Fields all_american_sweetie17@yahoo.com

02 Aug 2007 I served with Dr. Fields at the 14th USAF Dispensary, which became the 14th USAF Hospital, at Nha Trang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam. I left Vietnam in February, about a month-and-a-half before his death. I was shocked and saddened when a comrade wrote to inform me of the crash. I have visited Bob at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, a number of times, and have finally gotten over being angry that one so talented and devoted to his family and patients should be taken away from us; now I am just sad when I think of him, but glad I had the opportunity to know him. Bob was a Flight Surgeon, but put in long night shifts as Medical Officer of the Day, on a rotational basis. I was a Flight Surgeon Technician, but for a time I worked the treatment room, nights. The staff would had long discussions on any number of topics during the (sometimes) quiet hours. This gave me a chance to get to know Bob better. When I rotated back to the States, I visited a friend in the San Francisco area. I followed Bob's suggestion: my friend and I got all dressed up, went to the "Top of the Mark" at the Mark Hopkins Hotel, and had a drink. We drank a toast to "Bob Fields, the Best Damn Flight Surgeon." I will never forget this genial, kind, and fun man. Here's to you, Bob. From a friend and comrade, Charlie Smith uncamitty@yahoo.com

A Note from The Virtual Wall On 26 March 1969 a UH-1 (tail number 63-13158) of the 20th SOS went down. While hostile fire was the suspected cause, the only certainties are that the aircraft was flying at about 4,000 feet when a severe vibration began. The pilot began an auto-rotation to earth, but control was lost during the descent. The main rotor came apart, severing the tail boom. The aircraft crashed and burned near Duc My, SVN, 12 minutes north of Nha Trang, SVN. Eight men - three crew, five passengers - died in the crash: 20th SOS, 14th Special Operations Wing LtCol Frank A. DiFiglia, pilot, Burbank, CA Capt Walter C. Booth, copilot, Waukesha, WI TSgt Jesse C. Bowman, gunner, Lexington, KY Sgt Antonio L. Alho, gunner, Naugatuck, CT HQ, 14th Special Operations Wing Col Donald G. LePard, Flint, MI Col J. B. L. Levesque, Van Buren, ME 14th USAF Hospital, 14th Special Operations Wing Capt Robert W. Fields, De Land, FL Mr. Green, US civilian, assignment unknown According to Jim Henthorn, who has compiled a history of USAF helicopter losses, there was one survivor - a Sergeant Joslyn. Lt Col DiFiglia was the squadron's Commanding Officer; Captain Booth the Maintenance Officer; and Captain Fields was the 20th SOS' Flight Surgeon. Colonels LePard and Levesque were on the 14th SOW Headquarters staff.

The point-of-contact for this memorial is a fellow Green Hornet, Robert Hall robert.hall12@scott.af.mil

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 21 Apr 2002
Last updated 03/08/2008