IN REMEMBRANCE OF THIS HEROIC UNITED STATES COAST GUARD PILOT WHOSE NAME SHALL LIVE FOREVER MORE
Posted for: JACK COLUMBUS RITTICHIER:

STAFF SERGEANT

ELMER LARRY HOLDEN

FLIGHT ENGINEER

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE


SERGEANT

JAMES DOUGLAS LOCKER

PARARESCUEMAN ( PJ )

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE


LIEUTENANT

JACK COLUMBUS RITTICHIER

PILOT

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD


CAPTAIN

RICHARD CAROLINUS YEEND JR.

CO - PILOT

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE


all were serving with the


37th AEROSPACE RESCUE and RECOVERY SQUADRON

based out of

TUY HOA and DA NANG

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH VIETNAM



LIEUTENANT JACK COLUMBUS RITTICHIER

was one of the first three Coast Guard exchange pilots to fly combat
search and rescue missions with the United States Air Force's
37th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron in the Republic of
South Vietnam during the Vietnam conflict.

Within three weeks of his arrival in Vietnam he demonstarted his
courage above and beyond the call of duty.

Flying through heavy enemy fire to save four United States Army
fliers, he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross.

A couple of weeks later, under the faint light of illumination flares, he
pulled nine men from the side of a mountain, five of whom were
badly wounded.

On 9 June 1968, 37 miles west of Hue, a downed Marine Corps
fighter pilot lay on the ground with a broken arm and leg.

To his further misfortune, he had parachuted into a North
Vietnamese Army bivouac area.

The enemy used him for bait to lure rescue helicopters within killing
range.

Air strikes pounded the site around the survivor.

The first helicopter made three attempts to reach the Marine before
breaking off to refuel.

Lieutenant Rittichier dived his aircraft in for the pickup.

Heavy fire, however, drove him away. He swung around to let the
gunships sweep the terrain and then followed them back into the
area.

As he hovered over the pilot, bullets punched his aircraft and set it
afire. He tried to pull away, but his helicopter would not respond.

The helicopter settled to the ground and exploded.

Within 30 seconds a ball of fire consumed the helicopter.

Lieutenant Rittichier lost his life in nobly trying to save that of another.

While the Air Force carries him on its rolls of "Missing in Action," the
Coast Guard lists him as "Killed / Body Not Recovered."



LIEUTENANT


JACK COLUMBUS RITTICHIER


was the recipient of the

following military decorations



SILVER STAR

DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS with Two Oak Leaf Clusters

AIR MEDAL with Three Oak Leaf Clusters

PURPLE HEART





YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN

NOR SHALL YOU EVER BE





26 JUNE 2002
Posted by: CLAY MARSTON
Email: CMARSTON@INTERLOG.COM
Relationship: BIOGRAPHICAL RESEARCHER - USCG
Thursday, December 15, 2005
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