|
ROY ALLAN GUSTAUVSON
US ARMY - 9th Inf. Div., 60th Bal., 4th Art.
Vietnam Nov 66 - May 67
Unsung hero of a delta ambush in May 1967, where he was badly wounded and would
become the lone survivor. He spent the rest of his life undergoing dozens of
operations and much physical pain all from that fateful day in May 1967.Roy was
a much loved and admired man who never received in life the due recognition by
his government those honors that many of his fellow soldiers thought were due
his heroic actions. But the years and cancer proved to be too much for Roy.
Countless attempts by his beloved and faithful sister - Diana Guestavson
provided
no success with his bid to receive the Silver Star
that many felt he had earned. It is due to her strong urgings and pleas that
that I am moved to join her in paying homage and respects to a brother
veteran. It is also possible that he was the man
that my helicopter evacuated out of the delta in May 1967. My conversations with
Diana have me wondering if Roy and I did cross paths. I clearly remember taking
a wounded 9th Inf. man from the delta in a situation and circumstances just as
she had retold them to me on the phone. Odd, that after all these years I would learn
of the identity and the fate of one of those I had evacuated some 34 years later.
Roy was born on May 2, 1943 in the Bronx (NY). He went to P.S. #73 and later stared at sports for William Howard Taft High School. He was an
outstanding basketball, football and baseball player. (His sister tells me
how much he loved his dear Yankees baseball team).
He went into the Army and ended up in the delta area of South Vietnam. His
family would like to hear from anyone who served with Roy. You can contact the
Webmaster - I will forward on any messages.
Roy passed away after enduring many years of pain and suffering on February 4, 1999. He was given a heroes funeral at Arlington National Cemetery,
with full military honors. He will be missed by all of us dearly!
Comments by Bill McDonald
Before Roy left for Vietnam
Taken in the summer of 1966 - Yankee Stadium in background.
Roy with children in Vietnam - March 1967
Good-bye Roy
A real American hero!
COMMENTS FROM A TEACHER ABOUT ROY
Email sent 11/11/02
I would like to take this opportunity to let the family of Roy Allan
Gustauvson know that his life and story has influenced my middle school
students tremendously.
While searching this morning for a meaningful lesson plan for Veterans Day, I
ran across his story and pictures on the internet. I wanted the students to see
that veterans are people just they will grow up to be. Roy's story touched their
hearts and inspired them to write some very touching letters to our local
veterans.
A sample letter from one of my students:
Dear Veteran:
I am ashamed to say that I didn't know much about Veteran's Day and what it
stands for. Now that I know more about Veteran's Day, I have to say that I am
honored to have someone like you fight for my freedom. We all take for granted
things like freedom of religion and being able to walk outside and not be shot
down. My grandfather fought in the Vietnam War and is not here today and when we
go visit his grave and see the American flag, I will know from now on what a
sacrifice it was to go to war and leave his family behind and that my freedom
was paid for by all the veterans who fought in foreign wars. As our country is
being threatened again, I just have to say thank you for paying for my freedom.
I had to do a report answering the question, "Is Freedom Really Free?" and now I
know the answer. Freedom is not free at all Many people gave their lives for my
freedom and to me, that is what paid for my freedom. Today my whole class will
have a time of silence in remembrance.
To Roy's family, please know that we try to understand the cost of freedom,
and I hope that we appreciate what was given.
Debbie Konrad
"Don't sweat the petty things....."
Debbie Konrad
Her school website:
http://www.marshall.k12.ky.us/bms/Staff/Konrad.htm
| 
