Faces Bio

Robert Porter Sheppard was born on October 1, 1947. His home of record is Lebanon, NJ. Robert enjoyed camping and was active in church work. He was very much an outdoorsman. Robert was an Eagle Scout and the vice-chief of the Sanhican Lodge #2 of the Order of the Arrow, a Scout honor camping society. In 1965-66 he was the vice-chief of the year.

Robert graduated from North Hunterdon High School, where he enjoyed fencing and was a member of the woodsmen team. Furthering his education, he enrolled in Paul Smith's College in the Adirondacks and the Lake Placid School for Forestry with hopes of becoming a recreational forester. He had married shortly before his deployment.

Robert entered the US Army where he attained the rank of Warrant Officer (WO). In 1970, Sheppard went to Vietnam as a helicopter pilot. He was chosen, along with twelve others, for a flyby, i.e., when helicopters fly around in a circle formation almost nose to nose.

On May 7, 1970, Sheppard was killed when his helicopter crashed in a combat zone. He was 22 years old.

Sources: Reading-Fleming Middle School, Douglas E. Remer (friend), newspaper clippings and NJVVMF.