WHAT I CAN DO - I WILL -

USCG Lt. Jack Columbus Rittichier dove his aircraft in for the pickup. Heavy fire forced him off. He swung around to let the gunships clean the terrain and followed them in. As he hovered over the pilot, bullets punched his aircraft, and it began to burn. He pulled away, but the Jolly Green Giant would not rise. The helicopter settled to the ground and exploded. Within 30 seconds, a ball of fire consumed the aircraft, leaving only ashes where moments ago there had been life. Four men perished, including USAF Capt. Richard Carolinus Yeend, Jr. (co-pilot), USAF SSgt. Elmer Larry Holden (flight engineer), and USAF Sgt. James Douglas Locker (Pararescueman). Schmidt still remains unaccounted for. Lt. Rittichier was one of seven Coast Guardsmen killed in Vietnam, the last of them to return home. He died for the proudest Coast Guard mission of all -- saving lives.

Lt. Rittichier was no stranger to heroism. In November of 1966, Rittichier led a rescue mission in dangerous, wintry conditions, which saved the lives of all crew members aboard the West German Motor Vessel Nordmeer, which had run aground in Thunder Bay Island Shoal, Lake Huron; he was awarded the Air Medal for his heroic actions. Within three weeks of his arrival in Vietnam [in 1968], Rittichier flew through heavy enemy fire to save four Army fliers; for this 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.

The military never gave up on trying to locate the crash site and its crew; however, it was not until 09 November 2002 that the crash site of the Jolly Green 23 was finally located. On 17 January 2003, excavation began on the site, and on 14 February 2003, the remains of the four crew members were repatriated. Positive identification was made in August of 2003, and Jack was buried with full military honors on 06 October 2003 in a portion of Arlington National Cemetery known as Coast Guard Hill. I had the honor of being in attendance and afterwards presenting my POW bracelet to Jack's brother, Dave. The bracelet was flattened and placed into a shadow box along with the flag from Jack's coffin, Jack's medals, lieutenant bars, and a plaque. Similar shadow boxes were presented to younger brother Henry [Rittichier] and Carol (Rittichier) Wypick, Jack's widow.

Dave and Maggie as well as John and Carol wish to express their gratitude to those who have cared all these years and helped made Jack's homecoming possible. This secion also includes typed copies of the funeral iteneraries for Andrews Air Force Base, Fort Meyer Chapel, Arlington National Cemetery, and the Reception. There is also a photo section that includes family photos and photos from the funeral; I encourage you to take a look.