Veteran Spotlight: Roger Kneeland

Serving in the Vietnam War was Roger Kneeland’s first military assignment out of his college’s United States Air Force ROTC (AFROTC) training.

“I was in the Air Force from 1968 after I graduated ROTC in college until 1974 for six years,” Kneeland said. “My first assignment after pilot training was in the C7A aircraft in Vietnam

Upon arriving in Vietnam, Kneeland went through additional training that was specific to Vietnam’s landscape and dynamic. 

“There was a certain amount of local training that we went through. It was a two-pilot airplane, and you’re always with another pilot as a crew member,” Kneeland said.

After a year in Vietnam, Kneeland returned to the U.S. and completed the remaining four years of military required by his Air Force commitment flying the B52 bomber.

After returning to his home country, he met his now wife Gail while serving in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. After finishing his time in the military, Kneeland continued a career in aviation. He flew for Inland Steel for 20 years and then for NiSource for 15 years.

“My flying career after the Air Force was not in airline flying, but in charter and corporate aviation,” Kneeland said.

Kneeland retired about 10 years ago and no longer flies. He spends his time with his family and volunteering. Kneeland and Gail have two sons, one of whom still lives in the area. 

“One of our boys lives here in Valparaiso,” Kneeland said. “Our other son is in California. Both of them are married, and one of them has two lovely daughters.”

While Kneeland says he has not seen many of the men he served with in Vietnam since leaving the country decades ago, the members of his unit became close friends. It was a very specific bond.

“Unless you happen to be where you know somebody else was and you knew about it and looked them up, it’s not likely I’d run into them,” he said. “However, I did become pretty close with those guys during the year that I was there.”

What kept Kneeland going while in Vietnam was remembering that doing the best he could in the life or death situations could save his life. Kneeland showed a lot of bravery while serving, including during his first assignment in Vietnam.

“I wasn’t worried, concerned, or scared, particularly before we were going over there,” Kneeland said. 

From his bravery in service to his dedication to his family and involvement in the community, Kneeland makes the most out of life and the best out of circumstances.