More detail on this person: I had the privilege of flying with CW4 Robert Paul Metcalf, of
Potsdam, NY, one of your members.
I further had the honor of marrying his cousin and naming our Son Paul Robert. Bob flew Medevac in
Nam, as a Reservist, and as a New York State Trooper . . . he was one of the most safety conscious,
experienced, & competent Pilots I ever had the privilege to Crew for. This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site:
01/11/2025
Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association
Chief Metcalf died today of pancreatic cancer in a hospital in Houston, TX.
Obituary:
Robert Paul Metcalf, 66, Potsdam, passed from this world at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in
Houston, Texas at 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 3, 2012 where he had been a patient since December 20, 2011.
Robert was born on January 22, 1945 in Massena, the son of Robert C. Metcalf and Anne Dean. He
attended Lisbon High School and received two college degrees.
Robert married the love of his life, Shirley Ann Perry from Norfolk, and they resided in the Town of
Potsdam. They have one son, John Robert Metcalf, who resides in Houston with his wife Kristine and
their children, Delaney, age 10, and Ryan, age 6.
Robert worked as a New York State Police trooper for 27 years and received the Silver Star award for
bravery. He spent the last 16 years of his career with the State Police as a Medivac helicopter
pilot, coordinating search-and-rescue missions with the forest rangers in the Adirondack mountains
and surrounding area and performing hospital transportation flights.
Robert served in the Vietnam War and was awarded the Master Army Aviator Badge, Vietnam
Campaign Medal, Vietnam service medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, 11 Air medal awards and the
National Defense Service Medal with a Bronze Service Star. He retired from the U. S. Army with the
rank of chief Warrant Officer, 4th grade.
Robert was a substitute math and science teacher at Lisbon High School for 10 years and was well
known for his volunteer work and dedication to serving his community. He was a member of the
Potsdam Lions Club and a life member of the Potsdam BPOE Elks Lodge.
Robert was predeceased by his father, Robert C. Metcalf; his mother, Anne Dean; his grandfather Paul
Dean; his grandmother, Catherine Dean; his aunt, Mildred Dean; and his Uncle Raymond Dean.
Calling hours are Friday, January 13, from 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Seymour Funeral
Home in Potsdam. An Elks service will be held at the funeral home on Friday evening at 7:30 p.m.
followed by a Lions Club service at 8:00 p.m. Both are open to the community.
The funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, January 14 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Church, 17
Lawrence Ave., Potsdam, with Msgr. Robert Aucoin Celebrant. A spring burial will be held with full
military honors in the Church of the Visitation Cemetery in Norfolk at a date and time to be
announced.
Arrangements are with the Seymour Funeral Home in Potsdam.
http://northcountrynow.com/obituaries/robert-paul-metcalf-66-potsdam-0
Bob had served about another 20 years in the Army Reserve Aviation system as a UH-1 PIC, Safety
Officer for several years, and generally a great Mentor and inspiration to the younger Enlisted
members of our Unit who chose to attend, successfully, Flight School, and return to the Unit. He
also garnered the respect and admiration of the general Enlisted Corps who served with him.
Again, he was one of the best UH-1 pilots that I had the privilege of Crewing for. He trusted my
mechanical skills as as much as I trusted his Piloting skills . . .
I will pass on a copy of The Aviator to his Widow, Shirley and three to his Son, John (two for his
Grandchildren) and keep one for myself.
As a wise old Aviator once told me: "Maintain thy Airspeed or the Ground Shall Rise and Smite thee
Smartly"
From: Gary J Stefanini SSG USA (Ret)
Bob was with the 120th (Saigon) in Vietnam and I flew H-34s with him out of Finthen Army Airfield in
Germany while he was attached to the 8th Division flight detachment.
From: John Mateyko
Eulogy by Roger C Baker, CW4 USA Retired
REAL HEROS DON'T WEAR CAPES AND MASKS, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THEY WEAR
UNIFORMS AND THEY DO FLY. BOB WORE 2 UNIFORMS PROUDLY, THAT OF A STATE
TROOPER, AND THAT OF AN ARMY AVIATOR.
I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SHARE A CAREER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE
MILITARY WITH BOB. I FIRST MET BOB BACK IN 1975 DURING AN ARMY RESEVE WEEKEND
DRILL. SINCE THEN, WE FLEW TOGETHER FOR 21 YEARS TO INCLUDE A 10 MONTH ACTVATION
DURING DESERT STORM. OUR MILITARY CAREERS ENDED IN 1996, BUT WE REMAINED CLOSE
FRIENDS EVER SINCE. BOB AND SHIRLEY HAVE NEVER MISSED OUR YEARLY REUNIONS AT
MY HOUSE.
SOMEHOW WAY BACK IN OUR UNIT HISTORY, AN AARDVARK WAS CHOSEN AS OUR UNIT
MASCOT. PLEASE DON'T ASK ME TO EXPLAIN THIS, BUT BOB WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THIS
DECISION. YOU MUST KEEP IN MIND THAT ARMY AVIATORS HAVE STRANGE SENSE OF
HUMOR. BOBS DRY HUMOR AND WELL TIMED SARCASM MADE MANY A DULL DRILL
WEEKEND MORE THAN INTERESTING.
EARLY ON, BOB ALONG WITH BOB BERTOLLINI, WAS DESIGNATED A BULL AARDVARK. THIS
WAS A UNIQUE HONOR AND ALTHOUGH IT WAS OBVIOUSLY NOT THE OFFICIAL CHAIN OF
COMMAND, IT WAS OFTEN MORE EFFECTIVE THAN THE REAL ONE. SOMETIMES LEADERS
ARE OBVIOUS BECAUSE THEY WEAR STARS AND BARS, GIVE ORDERS AND STAND OFF BY
THEMSELVES. OTHER TIMES, LEADERS STAND IN THE RANKS AND LEAD FROM BEHIND. BOB
WAS ONE OF THESE. HE LED BY SETTING THE EXAMPLE AND SELECTIVE USE OF HIS
INTESTINAL FORTITUDE. WHEN THE ORDERS WERE GIVEN AND THE BRIEFINGS COMPLETED,
THE UNIT MEMBERS WOULD OFTEN TURN TO BOB AND ASK HIM, WHAT DO YOU THINK WE
SHOULD DO? THIS WAS CLEARLY EVIDENT DURING ANNUAL TRAINING 1990 AT GAGETOWN,
CANADA. BOB AND ANOTHER CRUSTY OLD WARRANT, BOB FRANCE WERE ENGAGED IN A
DEBATE OVER FLIGHT OPERATIONS WITH A YOUNG CAPTAIN IN THE OPERATIONS TENT. THE
CAPTAIN BECAME SO IRRATE THAT HE ORDERED THEM BOTH FROM THE TENT. BOB JUST
SMILED AND TOOK A SEAT, BOB FRANCE DID THE SAME. FINALLY THE CAPTAIN LEFT IN A
HIGH STATE OF FRUSTRATION. THE CAPTAIN WAS REFERED TO BY ALL THE WARRANT
OFFICERS AS JUNIOR FROM THAT DAY FORTH.
ONE OF MY FONDEST MEMORIES OF BOB OCCURRED IN 1979. WE WERE FLYING A TRAINING
MISSION ON A SUNDAY MORNING IN THE LOCAL AREA, AND BY CHANCE WE HAPPENED TO
FLY OVER MY HUNTING GROUNDS DOWN IN JAMESVILLE. A VERY LARGE BUCK WAS
SPOTTED AND WE MADE SEVERAL LOW PASSES ADMIRING HIS RACK. THIS WAS FAR MORE
EXCITING THAN THE NORMAL TRAINING FLIGHT, SO WE CONTINUED OUR DEER RECON OUT
INTO THE HIGH RENT DISTRICTS OF FAYETTEVILLE AND MANLIUS. MORE DEER WERE
OBSERVED AND OUR FLIGHT LEVEL WAS LOWERED FOR BETTER OBSERVATION.
UNFORTUNATILY, SOME OF THE RESIDENTS BECAME SOMEWHAT UPSET AT THE DEER
RUNNING THRU THEIR YARDS WITH THE HUEY HELICOPTER IN PURSUIT. NEEDLESS TO SAY,
THE SUNDAY MORNING TRANQUILITY WAS SOMEWHAT INTERUPTED. BOB AND I CONCURRED
THAT THIS WAS GREAT FUN. UPON RETURNING TO THE FLIGHT FACILITY, OUR BOSS, JIM
TINNEY WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF THE HANGAR WITH HIS ARMS FOLDED. UPON
APPROACHING HIM, HE QUESTIONED US, HOW DID THE FLIGHT GO? I KNEW WE HAD BEEN
HAD, SO WE FESSED UP TO OUR MISCHIEF. I MADE A OUICK PHONE CALL TO THE LOCAL
POLICE WHO FIELDED THE COMPLAINTS AND RECEIVED SPECIAL DISPENSATION WITH THE
PROMISE NOT TO REPEAT THIS MISSION. JIM FORGAVE US, BUT HE NEVER LET US FORGET
IT.
ON BEHALF OF ALL THE OFFICERS, MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVED WITH BOB IN THE ARMY
RESERVES, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE I CAN SAY TO CONVEY WHAT HE MEANT TO ALL OF
US. HIS LEADERSHIP AND FRIENDSHIP WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN. WHEN THE AARDVARKS
MEET FOR THEIR ANNUAL REUNION NEXT FALL, GLASSES WILL BE RAISED IN TRIBUTE TO HIS
MEMORY. ONCE AN AARDVARK, ALWAYS AN AARDVARK.
SHIRLEY, I HOPE YOU ARE THERE.
From: Gary J Stefanini, SSG USA (Ret)