The two occupants of a small training helicopter walked away without injury after it crashed at the University of Illinois’ Willard Airport around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. Willard Executive Director Gene Cossey says during a landing procedure, they lost control of the aircraft, which skidded down the runway and flipped over. 

Bruce Thiemann of East Peoria, Illinois dropped out of college and enlisted in the Army in 1968 and was sent to Vietnam where he was assigned as a helicopter mechanic who assisted with insertion missions and dropping off and picking up troops. He was eager to experience combat first-hand but after serving in Vietnam, he was ashamed and took more than a decade to heal his psychological wounds and feel proud of his service.