R 162031Z SEP 03 ZUI ASN-A00259000386 ZYB
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//G-C//
TO ALCOAST
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UNCLAS //N05360//
ALCOAST 430/03
COMDTNOTE 5360
SUBJ: RETURN OF LT JACK RITTICHIER, USCG, MISSING IN ACTION (MIA)

1. IT IS MY DUTY TO REPORT THAT ALL HANDS ARE NOW ACCOUNTED FOR WITH THE RECOVERY OF LT JACK RITTICHIER, THE COAST GUARDS ONLY VIETNAM-ERA MISSING IN ACTION (MIA).

2. LT RITTICHIER, WHILE SERVING WITH THE U.S. AIR FORCE IN A PILOT EXCHANGE PROGRAM, WAS DECLARED MIA ON 9 JUNE 1968 AFTER HE PILOTED A JOLLY GREEN GIANT HELICOPTER HH-3E, WITH THREE USAF CREWMEN OUT OF DA NANG, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM. WHILE ON A MISSION TO RESCUE A DOWNED AMERICAN PILOT, THE HELICOPTER WAS HIT BY AUTOMATIC GUNFIRE AND CRASHED KILLING ALL ONBOARD. SINCE THE CREWS REMAINS COULD NOT BE RECOVERED THEY WERE LISTED AS MIA. DURING HIS CAREER, LT RITTICHIER WAS AWARDED THREE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS MEDALS, FOUR AIR MEDALS AND WAS POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE SILVER STAR AND PURPLE HEART. LT RITTICHER IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIDOW, CAROL WYPICK, AND TWO BROTHERS, HENRY AND CARL DAVID RITTICHIER. ADDITIONAL BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION ON LT RITTICHIER CAN BE FOUND AT:

WWW.USCG.MIL/HQ/G-CP/HISTORY/BIO_JACK_RITTICHIER.HTML

3. ON MONDAY, 06 OCTOBER 2003, ARRIVAL HONORS WILL BE HELD AT ANDREWS AFB AT 1120. FUNERAL SERVICES WILL BE HELD ON 06 OCTOBER 2003 AT 1300 AT THE OLD POST CHAPEL ON FORT MYER FOLLOWED BY INTERMENT WITH FULL MILITARY HONORS AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY.

4. LT RITTICHIER ENBODIED OUR CORE VALUES OF HONOR, RESPECT, AND MOST ESPECIALLY DEVOTION TO DUTY. HE REPRESENTS A PROUD LEGACY OF COAST GUARD MEN AND WOMEN PLACING THEMSELVES IN HARMS WAY EVERY DAY IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY AND FELLOW MAN. LT RITTICHIER MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE; WE SHOULD NEVER FORGET HIS EFFORTS AND THE SACRIFICES OF THE THOUSANDS OF COAST GUARD MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVED SO BRAVELY IN OUR SERVICE OVER THE LAST 213 YEARS.

5. I ASK EVERY COAST GUARD UNIT TO OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE AT 1300 ON 06 OCTOBER IN MEMORY OF LT RITTICHIER AND ALL OUR SERVICE MEMBERS WHO HAVE SERVED WITH HONOR. THE MEN AND WOMEN OF YESTERDAY AND TODAY ARE OUR HERITAGE AND THE COAST GUARD OF TOMORROW SHOULD NEVER FORGET THEIR SACRIFICES AND ACTIONS. ALL COAST GUARD UNITS, NOT UNDER WAY, SHALL DISPLAY THE NATIONAL ENSIGN AT HALF-MAST FROM 1300 TO SUNSET ON 06 OCTOBER 2003.

6. AREA COMMANDERS, DISTRICT COMMANDERS AND MLC COMMANDERS TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO ADVISE RETIRED MEMBERS RESIDING IN THEIR DISTRICT. HEADQUARTERS SUPPORT COMMAND (A-4) IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WASHINGTON, DC AREA.

7. DONATIONS, IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, MAY BE MADE TO THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, P.O. BOX 102454, ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30368-2454.

8. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.

9. ADM THOMAS H. COLLINS, COMMANDANT, SENDS.
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