People
Collection for person entities.
Pages
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- Rodger Winford Robinson
- He was born Rodger Don Seifert to Donald Seifert and Violet Jean (Bear) Seifert in Wathena, Kansas. He was attending college in 1967 when familial circumstances dictated that he drop out of school. He did so and, knowing he would be drafted for the Vietnam War, enlisted in the Army before that could happen. He signed up with an option for Rotary Wing Aviation Training and went into the army in January 1968. He attended basic training at Fort Polk, Louisiana and then attended Rotary Wing Training at Fort Walters, Texas and Fort Rucker, Alabama. He then received his orders for Vietnam and arrived there just before Easter Sunday in 1969. He belonged with the 16th Aviation Group, which was absorbed into the 101st Airborne. He stayed in Vietnam for one year, and was first stationed in LZ Sally, where he lived in a tent with others in his assault helicopter unit. He flew an H1 Huey helicopter. He was stationed there with his friend Dick from flight school. Dick was killed during the war. Rodger received the Bronze Star of Valor, Silver Star and other honors for his service. He married Linda A. Cannady of Texas on August 31, 1970. They had four children. He graduated from Metropolitan State College in Denver with a degree in chemistry in 1977. He and his wife lived in Grand Junction, Colorado for six years, beginning around 1977. He farmed peaches and worked as a technician for Union Oil. He belonged to the Central Orchard Mesa Community Church in Palisade. He died at the age of 36 of an accidental drowning on his worksite for Union Oil Company near Parachute, Colorado. He was buried in Wathena, Kansas.
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- Rodney Michael "Rod" Kolenc
- He was born in Leadville, Colorado to Joseph Anthony Kolenc and Ann Ruth (Brown) Kolenc. His father was a crane operator at the AS&R smelter and his mother was a homemaker. The 1950 US Census shows the family living in Leadville, when Rod was two years old. The census indicates that Rod had an older brother and sister, and a younger sister. The family moved to Grand Junction when Rod was thirteen. He attended Grand Junction High School and graduated in 1966. He worked for the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad during high school and after. He enlisted in the armed forces out of boredom and curiosity, and reported on November 21, 1966. He attended basic training in Fort Bliss, Texas, and further military training in Fort Polk and Fort Story. He went first to Germany and, related to his prior job experience with trains, worked moving supplies and freight in Europe as part of the 49th Transportation Battalion. The 49th later merged with the 3rd Movement Region. He had signed up for three years, so that he could have his choice of schooling in the US Army via the Military Occupational Specialty. During the last part of his commitment, he asked to be transferred to Vietnam, because he was curious about the Vietnam War. He attended jungle combat schools in the United States before being sent. He arrived in Vietnam in March 1969. At first, he worked a desk job, but requested that he be assigned as a driver in a convoy unit, transporting military supplies. Upon his return from the Vietnam War, he joined the Vietnam Veterans Against the War. He worked again for the Denver and Rio Grande in Grand Junction, but quit. He briefly attended Mesa College, but quit because he felt out of place. He searched for another job, but was unable to find one for a year. As of 1984, he was working as a counselor for veterans at the Disabled American Veterans Outreach center in Grand Junction. He married Sherry Lee Hutton in Rifle on September 8, 1973. They divorced in 1977. *Photograph from the 1965 Grand Junction High School yearbook
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- Roger Cotten
- 2012 Cattlemen's Days Parade Marshall, served as Cattlemen's Days Secretary for 25 years, worked at Gunnison Bank and Trust for 52 years, (source - 2012 Cattlemen's Days Brochure) Cattlemen's Days Association Secretary in 1982 (From Cattlemen's Days 1982 Souvenir Program)
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- Roger Dayton Williams
- He was born in Washburn, Wisconsin to Halley Williams and Eleanore Edwards (Rocheforte) Williams. The family moved to the Denver, Colorado area soon after he was born. The 1950 US Census shows the family living in Denver, with Halley Williams working as a male hospital nurse. Roger attended Douglas County Junior High School and Douglas County High School in Castle Rock, graduating in 1967. He enlisted in the United States Marines on September 26, 1967, following in the footsteps of his older brother, whom he idolized. He attended basic training at Camp Pendleton in California and Artillery Ordinance in Quantico, Virginia. He served from 1967 until 1971, including a four month tour of duty in Vietnam during the Vietnam War (July 1969 to December 1969). During his tour, he served as a gun mechanic in a machinist unit, District Support Unit I, at Fire Base in An Hoa, Quang Tri Province. He reinlisted in 1974 and served until 1976. He achieved the rank of Sergeant E5 and received a meritorious unit citation. After his service, he worked as a Federal Correctional Officer, as a security guard, and as a horseshoer on a ranch near Grand Junction, Colorado. He used the GI Bill to attend agricultural courses. He married Naomi Irene Zyla of Colorado on July 13, 1980. They had two children, but soon divorced. He married Karen Sue Clay on May 11, 1985. She preceded him in death. He died at the age of 73 or 74 and is buried in Grand Junction’s Veterans Memorial Cemetery. *Photograph from the Douglas County High School 1964 yearbook.