Thomas Carl Kolstad
Era: Vietnam
Military Branch: Navy
KOLSTAD, Thomas Carl
Thomas Carl Kolstad was born on July 11th 1935 to Thomas & Cecelia Rebecca [Lambert] Kolstad. He graduated from Mountain Iron High School in 1953. His home at entry was Parkville, Minnesota.
He served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. He was the pilot of an RA-5C Vigilante photo reconnaissance jet. Mr. Kolstad entered the Naval Flight Aviator Program at Pensacola, Florida, and studied photo intelligence at Monterey, California. His rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.(LTCDR). He was stationed aboard the USS Constellation (CVA-64)
LT CDR Kolstad was declared missing in action (MIA) when on a mission over North Vietnam in October 1966. This status changed in 1975 to presumed killed in action (KIA). Finally, in March 1977, Mr. Kolstad’s remains were returned to the United States, one of eleven service members’ bodies returned by the Hanoi government. He was declared killed in action in North Vietnam.
He was posthumously decorated with the:
- Distinguished Flying Cross,
- Air Medal, -and-
- Navy Commendation Medal.
Mr. Kolstad remains were located in 1977. They were eventually returned and he was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Virginia, Minnesota.
The Virginia, Minnesota, Chapter of the Disabled American Veterans bears his name.
Source(s):
Mesabi Daily News, Virginia, Minnesota, February 25, 1990, p. 24, Section D.
Albert J. Amatuzio Research Center | Veterans Memorial Hall (vets-hall.org)
Vietnam Wall Vietnam Veterans Memorial - Fold3
CDR Thomas Carl Kolstad (1935-1966) - Find a Grave Memorial
U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 - Ancestry.com
