| Vietnam war hero's remains
identified
08/27/03
By Jerry Hilliard -- Associate Editor
Although no body had been
recovered, Dave Rittichier of Erwin long ago resigned himself to
the fact that his brother Jack had died during a rescue mission
in Vietnam. Dave, who earlier this year had provided blood
samples for use in DNA testing, received word last week that
remains found in the jungles of Southeast Asia had been
identified as Jack’s.
Now, plans are under way to lay
to rest the former helicopter pilot – one of the most
heralded heroes in U.S. Coast Guard history – among the
elite at Arlington National Cemetery. He will be buried in a
special section of the cemetery known as Coast Guard Hill. Dave
said he learned of lab findings identifying his brother in a
phone call from Lt. Cmdr. James Brewster, who is assigned to
Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, D.C. Instead of being
disheartened, Dave said: "Actually, I was thrilled at hearing the
results of the testing, and I'm satisfied that we finally will
get closure.
"I'm proud that Jack died
trying to save a comrade. I've had his scrapbook to remember him
by, but now I'll have somewhere to go to visit him at his grave."
Jack Rittichier, who grew up with younger brother Dave in Portage
Lakes, Ohio, was among a group of Coast Guard helicopter pilots
who volunteered to serve with the U.S. Air Force in Vietnam as
part of an exchange program.
Before entering the program, he
had established a record of heroism, including earning an Air
Medal for rescuing eight stranded men on a German vessel during a
snowstorm on Lake Huron. Upon his arrival in Vietnam, Jack
quickly earned two Distinguished Flying Crosses for his bravery
during rescue missions. On June 9, 1968, Rittichier and his crew
of three were trying to rescue a downed Marine Corps fighter
pilot when they came under heavy fire. According to eyewitness
accounts, their helicopter erupted in flames and settled to the
ground before exploding. The exact location of the tragedy
– which occurred about 37 miles west of the Vietnamese city
of Hue — remained a mystery until late last year. In the
absence of a body, Rittichier's name had been listed through the
decades among the nearly 2,000 Americans unaccounted for in the
war. Dave Rittichier and his wife, Maggie, received
correspondence from the military for several years before
learning last fall that the site apparently had been
found.
Remains believed to be those of
Jack and the three Air Force crew members were flown in February
to Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii and taken to the U.S. Army
Central Identification Laboratory for intensive testing. To
assist in the process, Dave provided blood samples for use in
possible DNA matches with the remains found in Vietnam. Brewster,
who until recently served as a Coast Guard decedent affairs
officer, told The Erwin Record last week that although no
official documentation has been released by the lab, everyone he
has spoken to has led him to believe that the remains of all four
men have been identified. Brewster added that although his
primary duties have changed, he will continue as project director
until Jack Rittichier has been buried with proper honors.
Rittichier was the first member of the Coast Guard and its only
flier to have died in the Vietnam War. Hundreds – maybe
even thousands — of Americans have worn POW/MIA bracelets
bearing his name, Coast Guard buildings have been named in his
honor, and Web sites have been created to perpetuate his memory.
Brewster explained that a monument originally was placed on Coast
Guard Hill at Arlington to honor members of that branch of the
service who died in World War I. Since that time, however, the
hill has become what he described as a "VIP spot."
The limited space on the hill
is reserved for graves of the most prominent members of the Coast
Guard, such as its commandants. The current commandant, Adm. Tom
Collins, reportedly sent down word recently that Rittichier
should be buried there even if it meant using the gravesite
intended for Collins himself. "All kinds of people, including
members of the POW/MIA groups from throughout the nation, have
followed the story for years," Brewster said. "Many of them
probably will want to attend the funeral."
Brewster added that the Coast
Guard may attempt to identify and notify those who have worn the
Jack Rittichier bracelets. Exactly when family members and others
will be attending ceremonies and a funeral is open to
speculation, especially since the lab still hasn't officially
told anyone that the remains have been identified. However,
Brewster said he has been planning for alternate funeral
scenarios since he began to hear through the grapevine about two
months ago that identification had been made. He said Rittichier
probably was identified through dental records, with DNA test
results providing additional evidence.
Maggie Rittichier, who moved
here with her husband about seven years ago, has handled much of
the correspondence with the military. She said the family has
decided that October probably would be the best time for the
ceremonies at Arlington. When Brewster called the Rittichiers,
one of the reasons was to learn if family members would prefer a
burial at the national cemetery. Another option would be a
cemetery elsewhere, such as the one in Akron, Ohio, where Dave
and Jack's parents are buried. Dave said he, younger brother
Henry and Jack's widow, Carol, agreed that Arlington was clearly
the most appropriate place.
"It's a tremendous honor for
him to be buried with the other Coast Guardsmen there," Dave
said. According to Brewster, graveside services will be just one
of several related events he will help arrange. A military
ceremony will be conducted before Coast Guard aviators depart
from Hawaii to fly Jack Rittichier's remains to Washington, where
another ceremony will be held upon arrival. Brewster said that,
depending upon the family's wishes, a funeral service may be held
at a public place before the graveside rites on Coast Guard
Hill.
"I'm looking forward personally
to helping lay to rest a genuine Coast Guard hero," Brewster
said.
article © the erwin register and is used with permission
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