Tink's dream was to be a Marine. He couldn't wait. As soon as he hit 17, he enlisted. He signed up under the "buddy plan" with his best friend from Streamwood, Tom Wingrenn. According to the recruiter, they would never be split up. Off they went to Camp Pendleton. They went through Boot together. Everything was fine. Tom was about 6 months older than Tink and, when he finished boot camp and turned 18, they shipped him off to Nam. Tink was furious. He argued with everyone and anyone about it. He even went so far as to write President Johnson. To no avail. Johnson returned a letter saying that he was sorry, but it was against the law to send a 17 year-old to Nam, he said.
Tink finally shipped out to Nam, arriving "In Country" in June,1966. On July 24th, 1966, he was killed on a trail at Hill 362 during Operation Hastings.
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The Chicago Tribune - 29 July 1966
Lance Corp. Robin L. Arnold, 18, son of Mrs. Corinne P. Arnold, 307 Stratford circle, Streamwood, was killed in Operation Hastings.
Cpl. Arnold attended Larkin High school in Elgin before joining the Marine Corps in February, 1965. His father, Andrew Arnold of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., had been a Marine in World War II. Also surviving are three sisters, Adrienne, Bonnie, and Donna, and two brothers, David and Donald, all of Streamwood.
Tink's dream was to be a Marine. He couldn't wait. As soon as he hit 17, he enlisted. He signed up under the "buddy plan" with his best friend from Streamwood, Tom Wingrenn. According to the recruiter, they would never be split up. Off they went to Camp Pendleton. They went through Boot together. Everything was fine. Tom was about 6 months older than Tink and, when he finished boot camp and turned 18, they shipped him off to Nam. Tink was furious. He argued with everyone and anyone about it. He even went so far as to write President Johnson. To no avail. Johnson returned a letter saying that he was sorry, but it was against the law to send a 17 year-old to Nam, he said.
Tink finally shipped out to Nam, arriving "In Country" in June,1966. On July 24th, 1966, he was killed on a trail at Hill 362 during Operation Hastings.
==============================================
The Chicago Tribune - 29 July 1966
Lance Corp. Robin L. Arnold, 18, son of Mrs. Corinne P. Arnold, 307 Stratford circle, Streamwood, was killed in Operation Hastings.
Cpl. Arnold attended Larkin High school in Elgin before joining the Marine Corps in February, 1965. His father, Andrew Arnold of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., had been a Marine in World War II. Also surviving are three sisters, Adrienne, Bonnie, and Donna, and two brothers, David and Donald, all of Streamwood.
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