Keith left behind a young wife. Keith’s call sign was “Dustoff”. Date of birth: 14 August 1947 Date tour began: 19 March 1970 Date of casualty: 25 April 1970 Home of record: Milwaukie, Oregon Branch and Rank: Army Reserve, Helicopter Pilot Unit: 1st Cav Division, 15th Medical Battalion Awards: National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal Location of name on the Vietnam Wall: 11W, 48
Location of service: South Vietnam, Binh Duong province Cause of death: non-hostile, died of illness or injury, helicopter crash A detailed description of the crash may be found here: https://www.vhpa.org/KIA/incident/700425101ACD.HTM Schools attended: Milwaukie High School Burial location: Willamette National Cemetery, Portland Memorials: Vietnam Veterans Memorial (Washington, DC), Oregon Vietnam Veterans Memorial (Portland), Veterans Memorial Coliseum (Portland), Gold Star War Memorial – Milwaukie High School
This personal remembrance was originally posted here: http://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/1473/RODNEY-K-ARNOLD My Cousin Keith, UH1-H Huey Pilot, 15th Med Bn, 1st Cav Div. Keith, as these years have passed, I have searched for you in your friends and myself, finding our love and admiration for you, a common bond. I know you are with Uncle Glenn, and what joy it brought him to see you again, as he missed you so very much. The pride I feel for you was first felt by him, passed to me as a precious gift, your memory to be held strong, to be held safe. I heard a Huey flying over my home the other day, and thinking of you, I went outside to glimpse it. Standing in my back yard I watched that sleek bird with a single light toning, head west toward the ocean...and I waved to it, and said ‘hi’ to you out loud...I think you heard me. I think you also know how proud I am of you, and how proud I have always been, to be your cousin. God Bless you always, and thank you for staying near to me.
The Oregonian, Wednesday, May 6, 1970 WO 1 R. KEITH ARNOLD Funeral for Warrant Officer R. Keith Arnold, of 14018 SE Tiara Dr., Milwaukie, will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Peake Memorial Chapel, Milwaukie. Mr. Arnold, 22, died April 25 of injuries received in a helicopter crash in Vietnam. Born in The Dalles, Aug. 14, 1947, he was graduated from Milwaukie High School in 1965. He entered the U.S. Army in 1966 and was in a helicopter pilots training school until March of 1970 when he went to Vietnam. Survivors include his wife, Sunday; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hutton, of Milwaukie, two half-brothers, David E. Erwin and Allan C. Hutton, both of Milwaukie, and his grandparents. Interment will be in the Willamette National Cemetery. Friends may make remembrances to the Elks Eye Clinic in care of the Milwaukie Lodge No. 2032
