In Memory
Cause of Death: Helicopter Crash in Vietnam
Classmate City: South Bend
Classmate State: IN
Classmate Country: USA
Was a Veteran: Yes Army
Survived By: Mother Pauline Yeakley and a sister and brother.
Name: Robin Ray Yeakley
Rank/Branch: E4/US Army
Unit:
Date of Birth: 24 July 1948
Home City of Record: South Bend IN
Date of Loss: 11 June 1972
Country of Loss: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 162326N 1072407E (YD565135)
Status (in 1973): Killed/Body Not Recovered
Category: 3
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: OH6A
South Bend Vietnam soldier finally laid to rest
Three soldiers from the Vietnam War, including one from South Bend, were finally laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery Wednesday.
Specialist Robin Yeakley, from South Bend; Captain Arnold Holm Jr, of Connecticut; and Private First Class Wayne Bibbs of Chicago were buried as a group in a single casket.
The Department of Defense recently identified their remains. The men were on a reconnaissance mission in Vietnam when their helicopter exploded and crashed, then exploded again on impact.
Robin Ray Yeakley
Jul. 24, 1948 - Jun. 11, 1972
Spc. Robin R. Yeakley of South Bend, Indiana has been missing in action since 1972 when his helicopter crashed. He was flying over a jungle area when the helicopter was struck by enemy fire and crashed. The crash site was found in 2006. He is honored on Panel 1W, Row 41 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Army Capt. Arnold E. Holm Jr. of Waterford, Conn.; Spc. Robin R. Yeakley of South Bend, Ind.; and Pfc. Wayne Bibbs of Chicago, will be buried as a group, in a single casket representing the entire crew, on Nov. 9, in Arlington National Cemetery. On June 11, 1972, Holm was the pilot of an OH-6A Cayuse helicopter flying a reconnaissance mission in Thua Thien-Hue Province, South Vietnam. Also on board were his observer, Yeakley, and his door gunner, Bibbs. The aircraft made a second pass over a ridge, where enemy bunkers had been sighted, exploded and crashed, exploding again upon impact. Crews of other U.S. aircraft, involved in the mission, reported receiving enemy ground fire as they overflew the crash site looking for survivors. Between 1993 and 2008, joint U.S./Socialist Republic of Vietnam (S.R.V.) teams, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), interviewed witnesses, investigated, surveyed and excavated possible crash sites several times. They recovered human remains, OH-6A helicopter wreckage and crew-related equipment—including two identification tags bearing Yeakley's name. Scientists from the JPAC used forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence to identify the crew.
06/28/2022 DEC
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