Roland was born on Oct. 10, 1935 in Nevis, Minnesota, graduating from Akeley High School in 1953.
He joined the Air Force in 1960, where he served 8 years, reaching the rank of Captain. His major command was the 7th AF. The Air Wing he was in was the 3rd TFW, 531st TFS Squadron.
Roland started a tour of duty in Vietnam on Aug. 29, 1967. On May 18, 1968 he was shot down in Hua Nghia Providence in South Vietnam. He didn't survive. Roland's body was recovered and he was brought home to lie at rest in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA.
As an interesting side note, Roland's name was submitted to NASA in 1997 for their STARDUST mission to space. This is what NASA says about the program: "Placing names onto the STARDUST spacecraft was a public outreach effort. It allowed people to be personally involved with the STARDUST Mission and helps to promote public interest, awareness and support of the space program. It also provided a way to honor individuals by enabling them to be associated with mankind's most advance technological endeavor and to be part of the quest of the human species to reach for the stars." Roland's name will remain in space forever. What a way to honor a pilot!
For more informaiton on the STARDUST mission, go to http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov/overview
The location of Roland's name on the Vietnam Memorial is Panel 62E, Row 21. you can view his name at:
http://www.usgwarchives.org/mn/mnfiles.htm
If anyone has any pictures of Roland or information, please email me!
From "Defense Visual Information Distribution Service,"
"Born October 10, 1935, Obenland was the son of the late Robert and Violette. He became a distinguished graduate of the United States Naval Academy in 1959, and one of only 47 graduates out of 798 to come to the Air Force to become a pilot. After pilot training, Obenland became a test pilot instructor before attending the Air Force Institute of Technology, where he graduated with a Master of Science degree in Astronautical Engineering in 1965.
In August 1967, Obenland volunteered for a two year tour of Vietnam, but he never returned home.
At the award ceremony, Abrams shared that he flew a total of 11 combat missions in formation with Obenland in Vietnam as part of the 531st Tactical Fighter Squadron, 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force. According to Abrams, Obenland demonstrated extraordinary skill and bravery as a pilot. He recalled that on March 13, 1968, they flew three missions together from the alert pad at Bien Hoa. On the third mission of the day, just after sunset and while supporting troops in contact, a 50 caliber site opened up on Abrams with deadly accuracy. He had resigned himself to being dead in the next few seconds. However, through skilled maneuvering and a bit of luck, he was able to avoid the shots.
Noticing where the ground fire originated, Obenland approached the site and took three hits during a face-to-face confrontation with the enemy. Together, Abrams and Obenland were able to silence the site and return to Bien Hoa relatively unscathed. Abrams recalled that it was the kind of experience that creates a lifelong bond between fellow pilots.
On May 18, 1968, Abrams and Obenland had an early breakfast together before going on separate combat missions. Obenland was flying a close-air support mission a few miles from his home base at Bien Hoa. During a mission drop, his jet received automatic weapons fire and crashed before he could eject. It was his 238th combat mission.
Obenland received many medals and awards during his career, including the Silver Stars, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, a Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. In addition to his pilot service, Obenland also worked as a project officer on the development of the Martin X-23A PRIME re-entry vehicle, setting the foundation for space vehicle development today. The last remaining PRIME re-entry vehicle is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, and he is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC, on Panel 62E, Line 21."
Roland was born on Oct. 10, 1935 in Nevis, Minnesota, graduating from Akeley High School in 1953.
He joined the Air Force in 1960, where he served 8 years, reaching the rank of Captain. His major command was the 7th AF. The Air Wing he was in was the 3rd TFW, 531st TFS Squadron.
Roland started a tour of duty in Vietnam on Aug. 29, 1967. On May 18, 1968 he was shot down in Hua Nghia Providence in South Vietnam. He didn't survive. Roland's body was recovered and he was brought home to lie at rest in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA.
As an interesting side note, Roland's name was submitted to NASA in 1997 for their STARDUST mission to space. This is what NASA says about the program: "Placing names onto the STARDUST spacecraft was a public outreach effort. It allowed people to be personally involved with the STARDUST Mission and helps to promote public interest, awareness and support of the space program. It also provided a way to honor individuals by enabling them to be associated with mankind's most advance technological endeavor and to be part of the quest of the human species to reach for the stars." Roland's name will remain in space forever. What a way to honor a pilot!
For more informaiton on the STARDUST mission, go to http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov/overview
The location of Roland's name on the Vietnam Memorial is Panel 62E, Row 21. you can view his name at:
http://www.usgwarchives.org/mn/mnfiles.htm
If anyone has any pictures of Roland or information, please email me!
From "Defense Visual Information Distribution Service,"
"Born October 10, 1935, Obenland was the son of the late Robert and Violette. He became a distinguished graduate of the United States Naval Academy in 1959, and one of only 47 graduates out of 798 to come to the Air Force to become a pilot. After pilot training, Obenland became a test pilot instructor before attending the Air Force Institute of Technology, where he graduated with a Master of Science degree in Astronautical Engineering in 1965.
In August 1967, Obenland volunteered for a two year tour of Vietnam, but he never returned home.
At the award ceremony, Abrams shared that he flew a total of 11 combat missions in formation with Obenland in Vietnam as part of the 531st Tactical Fighter Squadron, 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force. According to Abrams, Obenland demonstrated extraordinary skill and bravery as a pilot. He recalled that on March 13, 1968, they flew three missions together from the alert pad at Bien Hoa. On the third mission of the day, just after sunset and while supporting troops in contact, a 50 caliber site opened up on Abrams with deadly accuracy. He had resigned himself to being dead in the next few seconds. However, through skilled maneuvering and a bit of luck, he was able to avoid the shots.
Noticing where the ground fire originated, Obenland approached the site and took three hits during a face-to-face confrontation with the enemy. Together, Abrams and Obenland were able to silence the site and return to Bien Hoa relatively unscathed. Abrams recalled that it was the kind of experience that creates a lifelong bond between fellow pilots.
On May 18, 1968, Abrams and Obenland had an early breakfast together before going on separate combat missions. Obenland was flying a close-air support mission a few miles from his home base at Bien Hoa. During a mission drop, his jet received automatic weapons fire and crashed before he could eject. It was his 238th combat mission.
Obenland received many medals and awards during his career, including the Silver Stars, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, a Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. In addition to his pilot service, Obenland also worked as a project officer on the development of the Martin X-23A PRIME re-entry vehicle, setting the foundation for space vehicle development today. The last remaining PRIME re-entry vehicle is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, and he is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC, on Panel 62E, Line 21."
