SP4 GILBERT OLIVAR
Specialist 4th Class, Combat Aviation Air Crew
Headquarters Company, 52nd Aviation Battalion (pre-281st)
From: Hawaii
Date of Birth: October 14, 1943
Killed in Action on April 19, 1965
Shot down in Helicopter UH-1B 63-08632
in South Vietnam.
SP4 Gilbert Olivar of HHC, 52nd Combat Aviation Battalion was onboard UH-1B Gunship 63-08632, (Miss Oklahoma) of the 145th Aviation Platoon, when hostile NVA force engaged it. The aircraft was struck by ground fire. WO Daniel Bishop and 1LT Joseph Thorne, pilots, and SP-5 Millay were also onboard. The crew was providing close air support for a combat assault mission north of Qui Nhon at LZ Alpha. The 145th was assigned to the 52nd Aviation Battalion at the time of their deaths.
(See WO Bishop’s web page for details of the mission and the fatal crash. There is some question as to why Specialist Olivar was onboard the gun ship in that it was not customary for a passenger to accompany the crew on a combat mission)
Inscription:
HAWAII
SP4 HQ & HQ DET 52 AVN BN
Vietnam AM & OLC PM
A MAN IS NOT DEAD UNTIL HE IS FORGOTTEN
ONCE AN
INTRUDER....ALWAYS AN INTRUDER