Mike League
bgy4444@yahoo.com
Military
10697 Township Rd. 66 Forest Ohio 45843 United States
Memories
I remember Bob as at the time as being arrogant. I was young and didn't realize the difference between arrogance and self confidence. I remember he once told me he would not be taken alive if shot down. I thought sure sure big talk. Little did I know it would happen. I was not a close friend of Bobs but an acquaintance thru work and we had some good talks. When he went down I felt so ashamed of thinking him as arrogant. It was a rude awakening for me and to this day I feel ashamed. Bob you were a great man and you are missed by all who knew you in those days. Thank you for all you did for us.
Aug 13, 2015 |
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Garnet Jenkins
garijen@bresnan.net
Grand Junction Co
~ In Humble Tribute To A Fallen Hero ~
It is an Honor to pay tribute to Maj Robert Alfred Lodge, with Profound Gratitude for his Courage, Service and Dedication to our Country and for Freedom. Rest in Peace and know that you will NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. I am the sister of Sgt. David Dickinson, who also made the Supreme Sacrifice in Vietnam in 1967..... ' REST EASY, SLEEP WELL MY BROTHERS. KNOW THE LINE HAS HELD, YOUR JOB IS DONE. REST EASY, SLEEP WELL... OTHERS HAVE TAKEN UP, WHERE YOU FELL, THE LINE HAS HELD..PEACE, PEACE AND FAREWELL.'
May 11, 2011 |
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Celisa Durham-Johnson
Cekay513@gmail.com
Bedford Tx 76021 USA
Always Remembering Our Heros!
In school one day in 1972, at 15yrs old. Some people came to talk to us about buying some Bracelets to Remember/Pray for MIA(the bracelets that had the Blue Star on them) and POW's., fighting in the war.
I was honored to wear Maj. Robert Lodge's Bracelet from 1972 til 1976, and then some after I graduated. I always wanted to try to contact any of his family members and wished I could have earlier. I picked his name because the date 5-10th,1972, that he was missing in Action, was close to my B'day, 5-13th.
I will always be honored to have kept his memory alive.
Blessings for ALL our Veterans who served and for the Wall!
Dec 12, 2010 |
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Beth Crawford
bbc326@windstream.net
Albany MO 64402
Thanks to those who filled in some specifics on his mission I should have come to this site long ago. I wore his bracelet from 1972 until 1977 when I graduated from high school. I was in contact with his mother back then and she sent me a picture of him in his uniform( very sharp!!!!) and shared some personal information I always felt connected to him. Knowing he was missing haunted me as a young woman. Many years have passed. I still have his braceletand I promised his mother I wouldn't forget him or his sacrifice. I went to the Wall today and made an etching of his name. To his family.... I haven't forgotten.
Jul 29, 2010 |
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Malcolm Kirby
mlkdrk@earthlink.net
USAF Veteran - 191s photo recon.
Vietnam Veterans of America - Chapter 785
Rest in Peace, my Brother. You will not be forgotten...
Jan 9, 2009 |
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Col Jett Crouch
outlawf117@mchsi.com
Gulf Breeze Fl 32563 usa
Your memory lives on in today's Fighter Pilots
As a fellow F-4 Phantom "cold war" fighter pilot, I had the honor of working with Roger Locher. He constantly told us and fellow USAF Fighter Pilots of the "greatness", expertise and courage of Maj Lodge.
Every USAF F-4 Fighter Weapons School graduate knew of Maj Lodge and his expertise, and those Grads handed down that expertise to other Phantom crews. Those Phantom crews handed it down to todays Eagle Drivers, Electric Jet Drivers and now our new Raptor drivers.
To the family and friends of Maj Lodge, rememeber that each time you see a USAF Fighter Pilot, know he or she has been given the traits and character of Maj Lodge... that being..TO FLY FIGHT AND WIN...
God Bless Maj Lodge
May 27, 2008 |
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Bill Gallenstein
USAF Veteran
Zephyrhills FL 33541 USA
A very proud cold war USAF veteran remembers you on this day. My God bless you and your family always. I salute you, Thank you
Jun 27, 2007 |
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Roy Spencer
Fellow Air Force Vietnam Veteran
Two Heros-One Came Home
On the first day of Operation Linebacker in the Spring of 1972 a strike force of 32 F4s launched against the Paul Doumer Bridge and the Yen Vien railroad yard near downtown Hanoi. The North Vietnamese strongly defended these targets, firing a large number of SAMs
and sending 41 MiGs to intercept the U.S. attackers.
After shooting down a MiG-21, one of the F4D MIGCAP aircraft was shot down by one of more MiG-19s near Yen Bai, North Vietnam. Maj. Robert A. Lodge was the pilot of the F4D, callsign Oyster 1. His Weapons Systems Officer was Capt. Roger Locher. The aircraft was observed to be on fire during descent, and impacted the ground in a ball of fire. No chutes were seen or beepers heard from either crewman. This crew had shot down two MiGs the previous week. On June 1, an F4 on a mission in the area reported a beeper and voice
contact with a downed crew member in the vicinity of Yen Bai, North Vietnam. Search and Rescue (SAR) forces were immediately diverted to the area and
established radio contact with the WSO, Capt. Locher. Minutes later helicopters arrived in the area. By this time, the A1s defending the rescue were receiving heavy anti-aircraft fire. The A1s had not been able to pinpoint Capt. Locher's location, and the
helicopters, equipped with electronic location finders (ELFs), attempted to pinpoint his position. At this point a MiG-21 made a high-speed, low-altitude pass at the helicopters, followed by another pass within
minutes. The helicopters were low on fuel, and it was decided to suspend rescue for the day. (Note: Rescue was being attempted within 7 miles of Yen Bai Airfield, a very strongly defended area and extremely dangerous for the rescue attempt.) It had been three weeks since Oyster 1 was shot down, and it seemed unlikely that anyone could evade capture against such heavy odds. It was felt that perhaps a "trap" was being laid for the Rescue Forces. Despite the possibility of an ambush, the SAR operation resumed the second day. Operations on the second day began with a diversionary strike against Yen Bai Airfield. Other F4s were used to hit anti-aircraft guns in the area. The rescue package and the bombers, plus the attendant array of F4 escorts, EB66s, F105G Weasels and KC135 tankers totaled 119 U.S. aircraft -- more aircraft than had been involved in the original 10 May attack on Hanoi when Locher was shot down. As the helicopters entered the rescue area, they picked up strong radio signals from Locher. The A1 escorts were receiving heavy AAA fire and called in more F4 strikes against the guns. The SAR helicopters, to avoid SAMs and MiGs, flew at an altitude of about fifty feet (all within 3-7 miles of the enemy airfield). As they approached Locher's position, they began taking heavy ground fire from the many villages in the area. The ELF equipment proved to be particularly valuable, as its signals directed the helicopters right to Locher. A jungle penetrator was lowered, and Locher brought on board under heavy ground fire. It was not until Locher was actually onboard that SAR forces knew for certain that the rescue had not been a trap. Roger Locher had walked about twelve miles from where he had parachuted and had kept himself alive on wild fruit and weed shoots. The many streams had provided him a plentiful supply of fresh water. The extent of the SAR effort was indicative of the efforts put forth to rescue downed pilots.
It was believed possible that Robert Lodge had also escaped the crippled aircraft, and he was classified Missing in Action. In 1973, 591 Americans were released from prisons in Hanoi. Robert A. Lodge was not among them.
On September 30, 1977, the Vietnamese "discovered" the remains of Robert A. Lodge and returned them to U.S. control.
May 10, 2007 |
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Cindy Robertson
crobertsonks@cableone.net
Wore his POW/MIA Bracelet
PO Box 491 Chanute KS 66720 USA
I still have the POW/MIA bracelet for Major Robert Lodge that I wore for years beginning in 1972. His name never left my memory, and he lives on in my heart. Cindy
Jan 31, 2007 |
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Larry Summers
K9LJO@aol.com
None
106 N. Manifold St.
Ingalls,IN 46048 USA
I have been carrying Major Lodge's Bracelet since 1972 hoping that he would return safe. As the saying goes, "All gave some, some gave all" Major Lodge surely gave all! Thank you Robert Alfred Lodge!
Sunday, March 28, 1999 |
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