SOAR I ATTENDEE: Robert T "Swede" Ashton SOA #3026-GL

Swede spent a total of 31 months in-country, working as cadre at the MACV-SOG Recondo school for six month in 1969. 

 He then served at CCN from early 1970 until August 1971 as the 1-0 on RT Rattler and as a Covey Rider. Swede’s tour ended when he and Cessna 02 pilot LT Ryan were shot down near Savannakhet, Laos in late 1971. He was medevaced to the states and spent six months in the hospital, then returned to 7th Group (S3) and worked two years for Major Elliott. He was later assigned as the Race Relations NCO for 7th Group, a position he held for about one year, and then moved on to Recruiting duty in Los Angeles, where he was the top recruiter for the west sector two years running. After three years as a recruiter he was assigned to Pirmasens, Germany as the NCOIC for the Director of Industrial Operations for approximately four years. He was then assigned to Warrington, England and worked at the US Embassy as the NCOIC for the Army Attache for the last four years before retiring as a MSG. Swede has been living in England for the last 43 years and takes pride in never having lost a man on his recon team.