Major Robert L. Grof
Capt. Bob Grof deployed to Vietnam from Fort Riley with D Troop.
He had been Rotary Wing Transition classmates with Troopers Sid Lyons and Carter Brooks.
Bob Was killed in action on his second tour in April 1971.
Sid and Carter maintained contact with Bob's Wife, Vickie, until she passed away in 2009.
Bob didn't survive the 37mm hit.
Reprinted with permission.
Photos courtesy of Frank Jones and Edited by Randy White
A Frank Jones photo of the ship Maj. Robert L Grof was killed in on April 10, 1971. Maybe the flight can help I.D. the people in the photo. RW
The sitrep for B Troop, April 10, 1971. The grid coordinates for FSB Rendezvous are YC 436 960, so I believe there's a mistake in the report. The grids given on the C.D. must be where the ship was hit at. This is very near the border on the west side of the Valley, in the FSB Erskine -Bradley area.
Info from the VHPA C.D. about the incident.
Name: MAJ. Robert Lester Grof
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 04/10/71 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 32.7
Date of Birth: 07/27/38
Home City: Lansing, MI
Service: AR branch of the regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: B/2/17 CAV 101 ABN
Major organization: 101st Airborne Division
Service: AR branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 04W-115
Short Summary: C&C hit by 37mm in right seat killing Grof. WO Stone flew A/C back to Firebase Veghel, RVN. After Lam Son 719.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 68-15753
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 1983
Primary cause: 37MM
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: small arms fire
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: aircraft commander
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 07/09/70
"Official" listing: ground casualty
The initial status of this person was: no previous report
Location: Quang Tri Province I Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: YD165108
Additional information about this casualty from Michael P. Loyd, CE 67N2F, 170th AHC BIKINI/BUCCANEER Apr66-Feb69, B Trp 2-17th Air Cav BANSHEE Oct70-Jan72, 48th AHC BLUE STAR/JOKERS Jan72-May72, Fairbanks, Alaska, Oct. 97:
I remember the Hendrix "Love Birds" well. It was one of those good news, and very bad news things, that seem like a Hollywood script. They had a very fine Air Cav wedding, complete with swords, Cav hats, and send off in, what else, a Loach. I was out there waving with the rest, her in her white gown, heading off for their honeymoon. Since her parents couldn't be there, Patti had our Commander, Maj Grof, give her away. That's the good news. The A Shau Valley was our AO and unhappy hunting ground. We went out there as often as we could, weather permitting. Maj Grof went out on a weather recon, to see if the AO was workable, that way we didn't send a whole gaggle, only to return. He descended down a "Sucker Hole", and took a 37mm in the chin bubble. The Peter Pilot, on his very first in-country mission, managed to get the Huey down in one piece at Fire Base Rendezvous, with no hydraulics. Our FO LT Michael Rodak, attended Maj Grof, and kept him alive until he arrived at the 85th Evac. After hours of operating, he just had to much damage to his intestines, he passed away with Patti attending him. Very bad news.
Reason: gunshot or small arms fire
Casualty type: Hostile - died of wounds
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Methodist (Evangelical United Brethren)
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: battle dead
Category of personnel: active duty
Army Military class: officer
This record was last updated on 10/13/97
Reflections: Major/Capt Robert “Bob” Grof (For his Family)
I remember Bob as a most genuine individual and one that loved Army Aviation. I first met Bob at Fort Riley, KS and if my reallocation serve me correctly, Bob had just completed the Rotary Wing Transition Course prior to being assigned to D Troop, 3/5 Cav. I found Bob to be extremely likeable, helpful, a man with a purpose, knowledgeable, skillful, with tremendous abilities and consistently going the extra mile to make sure we were all striving for the same goal and learning to work together as a unit. Probably the most memorable time that comes to mind was when he and Wayne Lovell went into that hot LZ to pick-up wounded soldiers and they just sat there waiting to load the wounded and taking hit after hit but refused to leave until he had the wounded on board. Unfortunately, he took so many hits that day he completely lost tail rotor control and was not able to leave. However, he made us all very proud of his actions and it took a tremendous amount of intestinal fortitude just sitting there and taking those hits; however, his desire was to help. He could have easily refused but not Bob Groff. I will never forget that heroic day and the unbelievable determination of Bob to extract the wounded soldiers
When we all returned stateside, Bob and Vicky were my neighbors and we had a tremendous time at parties at their quarters. Vicky attended church services with my wife and me and oh what a voice she had and it just stunned everyone when she sang. Bob and Vicky Groff were a couple that individuals never forget. They were loving, caring and dedicated.
My thoughts to Bob's brother is to know that we all loved and cared for Bob as he was true gentleman and I am very proud to have known him and served with him the United States Army. We lost a tremendous individual, a loving and caring father, husband, soldier and a comrade in arms.
Don Davenport
) "The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday
I remember him as a good man and a skilled pilot.
Rick Stetson
9th Division LRRP
I knew Bob from the "start" when D Troop 3/5 Cav formed up as part of the 9th Division in Ft. Riley. Although I rarely flew with Bob I regarded him as a great pilot and friend. This friendship was very evident when he was one of the first persons to call me after I was assigned to Ft. Rucker after my stint in recovery. He arranged a party with as many "original" D Troopers he could locate in the area to welcome me back. I decided to "retire" at a very early age from the Army and did not find out about Bob's death until years after it happened. Even then it felt like someone took a bite out of me. There are too few good men in the world. I'm sure the Army and America would be a better place today if we had all been able to benefit from Bob's wisdom and skills for a longer time.
Crusader Carl Luthman
I left for Plieku and the 1/10th Cav before Bob was killed. Unfortunately I never really got to know Bob but I do remember him being one of the most respected members of the troop. Please convey our thoughts and prayers to Bob's family.
Hope this finds you and yours doing well.
Jack Shields
Crusader 67
I was Doughboy "11" from about May/June 1967. I was, at the time Sgt. John Stenmo. I am a "Plank Owner" and we were the last to ship out of Fort Riley. Lt. Swanson, as we called him, was my Platoon Leader. BUT, enough about me.
Captain Grof, as we knew him, did something for "We," the younger guys. Despite the heat (December 1967) during the "So-Called Truce" while we were at Bearcat (9th Division Base camp) he put on a Santa Claus suit, passed out a few gifts, (Playing Cards, etc.,) and made a Christmas for us! Man, it must'a been hot in that suit! To this day when I think of him, he will ALWAYS be Santa. I had put the war away in the farthest corner of my mind BUT it always surfaced during the daytime but mostly at night. I was deeply hurt when I found Major Grof and Captain Swanson's name on the wall. Same Panel. I'll call him Captain. I still see him walking to or from the airstrip with those "Cool" sunglasses.
John Stenmo
For you family members and friends, I thank you for letting us have him for the short time we knew him. A BRAVE man, Captain Grof!
John Stenmo D 3/5 Cavalry Vietnam 1967
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