Robert Gene Fortin

Warrant Officer
B TRP, 3RD SQDN, 17TH CAVALRY, 1 AVN BDE
Army of the United States
20 November 1949 - 13 September 1971
Turton, South Dakota
Panel 02W Line 015

1 AVN BDE

17TH CAV RGT 		Army Aviator

Purple Heart, Air Medal, National Defense, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign

The database page for Robert Gene Fortin

24 May 2005

He was a good man.

From a cousin,
CW4 Jim Miles
james.m.miles@us.army.mil
07 Feb 2007

I had the honour of spending the week end of 10, 11 and 12 Sept 1971 with my brother Robert at Phu Loi. If anyone reading this can help me out, I'd like to make contact with some of the guys I met on my visits to Bob's outfit. I'd especially like to hear from "Gentle Ben Thompson", Mike Long, Mike Heblur (from Neb.), Captain Henderson, MSgt Flecher and/or Major Gilcoat. I've had contact with Mel (Redcloud) Sheldon from Marysville, Washington.

"A Brother's Prayer"
(Written during the all-night vigil prior to Bob's funeral)

Dear Lord,
Give me the strength
To be half the man
We bury here today.
And give me what it takes
To meet challanges his way.
No task seemed too difficult,
No burden too great,
No barrier unpassable,
No ending left to fate.
He saw a people suffering,
And went to aid their cause.
He asked no recognition,
No handshake nor applause.
Why do men of same backgrounds
take up such different roads,
Where one takes up the burden,
And the other adds to the loads.
He gave his life protecting
The rights of men like these,
And we've got them here at home
As well as overseas.

Roger A. Fortin 21 Sept.1971

From his brother,
MSgt. Roger A. Fortin USAF (Ret)
P O Box 296, Doland, SD 57436
(605) 460-6317
ra4_10@yahoo.com

A Note from The Virtual Wall

The casualty database implies Warrant Officer Fortin died in a helicopter crash, but he didn't. He was hit by enemy fire while in flight and died before his crewmates could get him to a medical facility.


The point-of-contact for this memorial is
his brother,
Roger A. Fortin
MSgt USAF (Ret)
P O Box 296, Doland, S D 57436
(605) 460-6317
ra4_10@yahoo.com


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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 24 May 2005
Last updated 04/03/2007