Richard E. Bolstad

 

Preferred Name: Dick

Nickname/Call Sign:

Date of Birth: July 7, 1929 (February 21, 2014)

Highest Military Grade Held: Colonel

Hometown: Minneapolis, MN

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Biography

Dick Bolstad was born on July 7, 1929, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve on December 14, 1948, and went on active duty beginning August 19, 1950. Cpl Bolstad served in combat in Korea with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment of the 1st Marine Division from September 1950 until he returned to the United States in April 1951, and then served at MCS Quantico, Virginia, until leaving active duty on March 31, 1952.

He received an honorable discharge from the Marine Corps on April 1, 1953, and then enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on July 14, 1953. After serving in aircraft maintenance, A2C Bolstad entered the Aviation Cadet Program on June 20, 1955, and was commissioned a 2d Lt in the U.S. Air Force and awarded his pilot wings on September 28, 1956.

After completing F-86A Sabre training at Williams AFB, Arizona, and F-100A Super Sabre training at Nellis AFB, Nevada, Lt Bolstad served as an F-100C pilot with the 32nd Fighter-Day Squadron at Soesterberg AB in the Netherlands from June 1957 to June 1961, followed by service as an F-100 pilot with the 355th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Myrtle Beach AFB, South Carolina, from June 1961 to September 1964.

Capt Bolstad then completed A-1 Skyraider training, and then served as an A-1 pilot with the 602nd Fighter Squadron at Bien Hoa AB, South Vietnam, from March 1965 until he was forced to bail out over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on November 6, 1965. After spending 2,656 days in captivity, Maj Bolstad was released during Operation Homecoming on February 12, 1973. He was briefly hospitalized to recover from his injuries at Scott AFB, Illinois, and then attended Air War College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, from August 1973 to July 1974.

His final assignment was as a Weapons Officer, F-4 Phantom II Squadron Commander, and finally as Deputy Base Commander at Luke AFB, Arizona, from July 1974 until his retirement from the Air Force on April 1, 1979.

Dick Bolstad died on February 21, 2014, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

(source Veteran Tributes: Https://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=1295)

RICHARD EUGENE BOLSTAD
Lieutenant Colonel -USAF,  pilot
Shot Down: November 6, 1965
Released: February 12, 1973

I entered the military in the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve December 1948 and was called to active duty in August 1950 for the Korean War. I was assigned to the 1st Marine Division making the landing at Inchon, Korea. In Korea, I received the Purple Heart.

After being released from active duty, I worked until I was accepted in the USAF Aviation Cadet program in June 1955. I received my wings and commission in September 1956. I spent four years flying the F-100C at a base in Holland. Then I was transferred to Myrtle Beach AFB, South Carolina where I again flew the F-100.

In August 1964 I volunteered for duty in Vietnam flying an A-lE which is a propeller-driven late World War ll vintage Navy developed aircraft. I arrived at Bien Hoa, South Vietnam on 31 March 1965. There I trained South Vietnamese pilots to fly the A-1 E aircraft. This was 40% of my mission. The rest of the time I flew close air support missions in support of ground forces – a job which I loved.

October 1965 found me home on leave in Minneapolis where I became engaged to my wife, Helen — her nickname is “Sissy”–who I met and dated at Myrtle Beach for a year before I left there.

Upon return from leave, I flew rescue support missions in North Vietnam when I was shot down on 6 November 1965 in an A-1E. I was released on 12 February 1973 and returned to Clark AB in the Philippines.

I feel extremely fortunate that during these seven years, plus, that Sissy waited for me to return. She somehow had the faith and courage and a deeply rooted love that can never be explained in words. Her seven years were much more difficult than mine. We were married on St. Patrick’s Day (March 17, 1973) in a Catholic Church at Ocean Drive Beach, South Carolina. We spent a wonderful honeymoon at Maui, Hawaii and are now enjoying life to its fullest.

The doctors at Scott AFB, Illinois gave me a clean bill of health and I have been assigned to attend Air War College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, commencing this August. With twenty-four years of service, I intend to stay in the Air Force and while at AWC I will pursue a strong desire to complete my education and obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Business. I will remain in the service of my country as long as they feel I am of some use.

Richard Bolstad retired from the United States Air Force as a Colonel. He and Sissy resided in Virginia until his death in 2014.

(source: POWNetwork Https://www.pownetwork.org/bios/b/b091.htm)

Units Assigned

12/ 1948 enlisted in Marine Corps
8/1950-4/1951 Fox Company/2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment/1st Marine Division,
4/1951-3/1953 MCS Quantico, VA
3/1952 Left Active Duty
4/1/1953 Honorable Discharge from Marie Corps
7/1953-6/1955 Enlisted in USAF (Aircraft Maintenance)
6/1955 Entered Aviation Cadet Program
9/1956 Received commission and pilot wings
9/1956 Pilot training, Williams AFB, AZ/Nellis AFB, NV (F-86A, F-100A)
6/1957-6/1961 32nd Fighter Day Squadron, Soesterberg AB, Netherlands (F-100C)
6/1961-9/1964 355th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Myrtle Beach AFB, SC (F-100)
3/1965-11/6/1965 602nd Fighter Squadron, Bien Hoa, Vietnam (A1-Skyraider)
11/6/1965 Shot Down spent 2,656 days in captivity
2/12/1973 Released during Operation Homecoming (recuperated at Scott AFB, IL)
8/1973-7/1974 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL
7/1974-4/1979 Weapons Officer, F-4 Phantom II Squadron Commander, Deputy Base Commander, Luke AFB, AZ (F-4)
4/1/1979 Retired USAF

Awards & Decorations

 Silver Star
 Legion of Merit
 Distinguished Flying Cross -2 (with Valor Device and Oak Leaf Cluster)
 Bronze Star (with Valor device and Oak Leaf Cluster)
 Purple Heart (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
 Air Medal (with Silver and Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
 Navy Combat Action Ribbon
 Presidential Unit Citation (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
Navy Presidential Unit Citation (with Bronze Star)
 Outstanding Unit Award (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
 POW Medal
 Combat Readiness Medal
 Army Good Conduct Medal
 Marine Reserve Good Conduct Medal
 National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Star)
 Korean Service Medal (with 3 Bronze Stars)
 Armed Forces Expeditionary Service Award
 Vietnam Service Medal (with 3 Silver and 1 Bronze Star)
 Air Force Longevity Award (with Silver and Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
 Small Arms Marksmanship Award (with Bronze Star)
 Korean Presidential Unit Citation
 Vietnam Gallantry Cross (with Palm)
 United Nations Korea Medal
 Vietnam Campaign Medal
 Korean War Service Medal

Flight Info

F-86 A
F-100 A/C
A-IE
F-4

Military Education

1973-1974 Air War College

Civilian Education

Biography

Biography

Dick Bolstad was born on July 7, 1929, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve on December 14, 1948, and went on active duty beginning August 19, 1950. Cpl Bolstad served in combat in Korea with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment of the 1st Marine Division from September 1950 until he returned to the United States in April 1951, and then served at MCS Quantico, Virginia, until leaving active duty on March 31, 1952.

He received an honorable discharge from the Marine Corps on April 1, 1953, and then enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on July 14, 1953. After serving in aircraft maintenance, A2C Bolstad entered the Aviation Cadet Program on June 20, 1955, and was commissioned a 2d Lt in the U.S. Air Force and awarded his pilot wings on September 28, 1956.

After completing F-86A Sabre training at Williams AFB, Arizona, and F-100A Super Sabre training at Nellis AFB, Nevada, Lt Bolstad served as an F-100C pilot with the 32nd Fighter-Day Squadron at Soesterberg AB in the Netherlands from June 1957 to June 1961, followed by service as an F-100 pilot with the 355th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Myrtle Beach AFB, South Carolina, from June 1961 to September 1964.

Capt Bolstad then completed A-1 Skyraider training, and then served as an A-1 pilot with the 602nd Fighter Squadron at Bien Hoa AB, South Vietnam, from March 1965 until he was forced to bail out over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on November 6, 1965. After spending 2,656 days in captivity, Maj Bolstad was released during Operation Homecoming on February 12, 1973. He was briefly hospitalized to recover from his injuries at Scott AFB, Illinois, and then attended Air War College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, from August 1973 to July 1974.

His final assignment was as a Weapons Officer, F-4 Phantom II Squadron Commander, and finally as Deputy Base Commander at Luke AFB, Arizona, from July 1974 until his retirement from the Air Force on April 1, 1979.

Dick Bolstad died on February 21, 2014, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

(source Veteran Tributes: Https://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=1295)

POW/Shot Down

RICHARD EUGENE BOLSTAD
Lieutenant Colonel -USAF,  pilot
Shot Down: November 6, 1965
Released: February 12, 1973

I entered the military in the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve December 1948 and was called to active duty in August 1950 for the Korean War. I was assigned to the 1st Marine Division making the landing at Inchon, Korea. In Korea, I received the Purple Heart.

After being released from active duty, I worked until I was accepted in the USAF Aviation Cadet program in June 1955. I received my wings and commission in September 1956. I spent four years flying the F-100C at a base in Holland. Then I was transferred to Myrtle Beach AFB, South Carolina where I again flew the F-100.

In August 1964 I volunteered for duty in Vietnam flying an A-lE which is a propeller-driven late World War ll vintage Navy developed aircraft. I arrived at Bien Hoa, South Vietnam on 31 March 1965. There I trained South Vietnamese pilots to fly the A-1 E aircraft. This was 40% of my mission. The rest of the time I flew close air support missions in support of ground forces – a job which I loved.

October 1965 found me home on leave in Minneapolis where I became engaged to my wife, Helen — her nickname is “Sissy”–who I met and dated at Myrtle Beach for a year before I left there.

Upon return from leave, I flew rescue support missions in North Vietnam when I was shot down on 6 November 1965 in an A-1E. I was released on 12 February 1973 and returned to Clark AB in the Philippines.

I feel extremely fortunate that during these seven years, plus, that Sissy waited for me to return. She somehow had the faith and courage and a deeply rooted love that can never be explained in words. Her seven years were much more difficult than mine. We were married on St. Patrick’s Day (March 17, 1973) in a Catholic Church at Ocean Drive Beach, South Carolina. We spent a wonderful honeymoon at Maui, Hawaii and are now enjoying life to its fullest.

The doctors at Scott AFB, Illinois gave me a clean bill of health and I have been assigned to attend Air War College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, commencing this August. With twenty-four years of service, I intend to stay in the Air Force and while at AWC I will pursue a strong desire to complete my education and obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Business. I will remain in the service of my country as long as they feel I am of some use.

Richard Bolstad retired from the United States Air Force as a Colonel. He and Sissy resided in Virginia until his death in 2014.

(source: POWNetwork Https://www.pownetwork.org/bios/b/b091.htm)

Units - Education - Awards - Flight Info

Units Assigned

12/ 1948 enlisted in Marine Corps
8/1950-4/1951 Fox Company/2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment/1st Marine Division,
4/1951-3/1953 MCS Quantico, VA
3/1952 Left Active Duty
4/1/1953 Honorable Discharge from Marie Corps
7/1953-6/1955 Enlisted in USAF (Aircraft Maintenance)
6/1955 Entered Aviation Cadet Program
9/1956 Received commission and pilot wings
9/1956 Pilot training, Williams AFB, AZ/Nellis AFB, NV (F-86A, F-100A)
6/1957-6/1961 32nd Fighter Day Squadron, Soesterberg AB, Netherlands (F-100C)
6/1961-9/1964 355th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Myrtle Beach AFB, SC (F-100)
3/1965-11/6/1965 602nd Fighter Squadron, Bien Hoa, Vietnam (A1-Skyraider)
11/6/1965 Shot Down spent 2,656 days in captivity
2/12/1973 Released during Operation Homecoming (recuperated at Scott AFB, IL)
8/1973-7/1974 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL
7/1974-4/1979 Weapons Officer, F-4 Phantom II Squadron Commander, Deputy Base Commander, Luke AFB, AZ (F-4)
4/1/1979 Retired USAF

Awards & Decorations

 Silver Star
 Legion of Merit
 Distinguished Flying Cross -2 (with Valor Device and Oak Leaf Cluster)
 Bronze Star (with Valor device and Oak Leaf Cluster)
 Purple Heart (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
 Air Medal (with Silver and Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
 Navy Combat Action Ribbon
 Presidential Unit Citation (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
Navy Presidential Unit Citation (with Bronze Star)
 Outstanding Unit Award (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
 POW Medal
 Combat Readiness Medal
 Army Good Conduct Medal
 Marine Reserve Good Conduct Medal
 National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Star)
 Korean Service Medal (with 3 Bronze Stars)
 Armed Forces Expeditionary Service Award
 Vietnam Service Medal (with 3 Silver and 1 Bronze Star)
 Air Force Longevity Award (with Silver and Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
 Small Arms Marksmanship Award (with Bronze Star)
 Korean Presidential Unit Citation
 Vietnam Gallantry Cross (with Palm)
 United Nations Korea Medal
 Vietnam Campaign Medal
 Korean War Service Medal

Flight Info

F-86 A
F-100 A/C
A-IE
F-4

Military Education

1973-1974 Air War College

Civilian Education

Images