SGT Robert John Ollikainen, Livonia, MI on www.VirtualWall.org The Virtual Wall® Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall

I have a total of 13 Photos for you to consider posting for Robert J Ollikainen. I have also written some memorial comments about my time with Robert while we served together.

I served with Robert Ollikainen from December 1968 through June 1969 when I left Viet Nam. He was an easy going, friendly guy who did his job with a quiet resignation. We would both grumble about some of the dumb things that happened, but he simply tried to get through his tour one day at a time. We were not extremely close as buddies but we went out on many patrols and spend many nights on ambush together.

There was one incident involving Robert that I remember vividly. It occurred on Saturday, May 3 1969. We were part of a patrol at 6:00 in the evening, moving down a road toward an ambush site. He was near the front of the file and I was about fifty feet behind him. There was a file of soldiers on each side of the road and there was water on both sides of the road.

Suddenly a water buffalo broke loose from his papa-san and we saw it come charging toward our file. It charges one man and the guy jumps to the side and the buffalo misses. The buffalo heads for the next man (Robert) and butts him into the water.

The rifle sling from Robert's rifle hooks around the horns of the buffalo. Now the buffalo has a rifle in his face and he is really mad. He charges past me toward a man on the other side of the road. I aim my rifle and fire three times, twice in the chest and once in the head and the buffalo drops. We initially thought that the buffalo had killed Robert because it got him on its horns, but as it turned out the horns never punctured his flak jacket. Robert was only stunned. He said the buffalo hit him with its head. We couldn't stop the buffalo sooner, because there was always someone in the line of fire. I was the first one to get a clear shot at him. The papa-san can't figure it out.

As soon as the medic confirms that Robert hasn't broken anything, we continue moving along the road, eventually reaching our designated location near a river crossing and set up for the night ambush. The night passes uneventfully and we return along the same route the next morning.

As we make our way back to our pickup point we pass through a small village near the site of the buffalo incident. We quickly notice that several people are walking around with large chunks of meat hanging from metal hooks. It turns out that the villagers brought the buffalo carcass back to the village and cut it up while it was still fresh. The local diet normally consists of rice and vegetables with an occasional bit of protein from a chicken or a pig. The fresh buffalo meat is a real treat for these villagers.

It also turns out that the farmer who owned the buffalo will not lose everything. He is able to file a claim with the U.S. Army for the loss of his buffalo and will receive compensation so that he will be able to purchase another water buffalo or other animals. This is one of the side benefits of pacification where the U.S. tried to minimize collateral effects of the war on civilians.

Robert Ollikainen was a bit bruised from this episode, but he responded with his quiet sense of humor. He later joked about the incident and said he was thinking about becoming a bull fighter, but felt that he needed more practice and training. I miss Robert and was sorry to learn that he did not return. He was one of the most memorable people in our unit.

I have a total of 13 Photos for you to consider posting for Robert J Ollikainen. I have also written some memorial comments about my time with Robert while we served together. I served with Robert Ollikainen from December 1968 through June 1969 when I left Viet Nam. He was an easy going, friendly guy who did his job with a quiet resignation. We would both grumble about some of the dumb things that happened, but he simply tried to get through his tour one day at a time. We were not extremely close as buddies but we went out on many patrols and spend many nights on ambush together. There was one incident involving Robert that I remember vividly. It occurred on Saturday, May 3 1969. We were part of a patrol at 6:00 in the evening, moving down a road toward an ambush site. He was near the front of the file and I was about fifty feet behind him. There was a file of soldiers on each side of the road and there was water on both sides of the road. Suddenly a water buffalo broke loose from his papa-san and we saw it come charging toward our file. It charges one man and the guy jumps to the side and the buffalo misses. The buffalo heads for the next man (Robert) and butts him into the water. The rifle sling from Robert's rifle hooks around the horns of the buffalo. Now the buffalo has a rifle in his face and he is really mad. He charges past me toward a man on the other side of the road. I aim my rifle and fire three times, twice in the chest and once in the head and the buffalo drops. We initially thought that the buffalo had killed Robert because it got him on its horns, but as it turned out the horns never punctured his flak jacket. Robert was only stunned. He said the buffalo hit him with its head. We couldn't stop the buffalo sooner, because there was always someone in the line of fire. I was the first one to get a clear shot at him. The papa-san can't figure it out. As soon as the medic confirms that Robert hasn't broken anything, we continue moving along the road, eventually reaching our designated location near a river crossing and set up for the night ambush. The night passes uneventfully and we return along the same route the next morning. As we make our way back to our pickup point we pass through a small village near the site of the buffalo incident. We quickly notice that several people are walking around with large chunks of meat hanging from metal hooks. It turns out that the villagers brought the buffalo carcass back to the village and cut it up while it was still fresh. The local diet normally consists of rice and vegetables with an occasional bit of protein from a chicken or a pig. The fresh buffalo meat is a real treat for these villagers. It also turns out that the farmer who owned the buffalo will not lose everything. He is able to file a claim with the U.S. Army for the loss of his buffalo and will receive compensation so that he will be able to purchase another water buffalo or other animals. This is one of the side benefits of pacification where the U.S. tried to minimize collateral effects of the war on civilians. Robert Ollikainen was a bit bruised from this episode, but he responded with his quiet sense of humor. He later joked about the incident and said he was thinking about becoming a bull fighter, but felt that he needed more practice and training. I miss Robert and was sorry to learn that he did not return. He was one of the most memorable people in our unit.

- - Steven Burchik, October 23, 2013 Photos © 2014