Robert Cole Stewart ’56

CPT Robert Cole Stewart, Vietnam Veteran, Native of Carthage, NC.

Captain Robert Cole Stewart was a casualty of the Vietnam War. As a member of the Army, CPT Stewart served our country until February 15th, 1967 in Chuong Thien, South Vietnam. He was 32 years old and was married. It was reported that Robert died when his helicopter crashed while on an ARVN Operation in Chuong Thien province. His body was recovered. Robert was born on July 9th, 1934 in Carthage, North Carolina. CPT Stewart is on panel 15E, line 037 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. He served our country for 12 years.

Stewart was Warrior lead on that fateful day. I was Tiger Lead in the second insertion behind him and watched his aircraft roll over on its side as he was killed. It was my longest day but could not compare to his ultimate sacrifice. He was missed then and still is. The men of Soc Trang lost a gallant officer that day, one of many they would lose in those days. They are gone but not forgotten. God rest them all. Dave Cunningham.

Fellow Pilot. In the Shadow of the Blade is a documentary about a rebuilt UH-1 “Huey” helicopter that tours the United States, once again touching only a relative few of the many, many lives that it impacted. I was also at Chuong Thien on February 15, 1967 and as I viewed the documentary my thoughts turned to Captain Stewart and his family. May God bless them! Meredith “Maz” Mazza, 7711 Wyatt Lake Drive, Las Vegas, OK 73505.

Capt Stewart is the son of Myrton Thomas & Doris Mae Mills Stewart of Carthage NC

He served with the 336th Assault Helicopter Company, “Warriors”, 13th Aviation Battalion, 164th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade, USARV.

He was awarded Army Aviators Wings, The Bronze Star Medal, The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and The Air Medal with Multiple Oak Leaf Clusters.