Welcome Home, Finally, to Rest.
The remains of Lt. Jack C. Rittichier, of Barberton, Ohio, the only U.S. Coast Guardsman listed as missing in action in the Vietnam War, were returned to his family in the United States. Lt. Rittichier’s remains were returned along with those of three other U.S. servicemen, who perished with Lt. Rittichier in June, 1968 when their helicopter received enemy fire and crashed while on a mission to rescue a downed pilot.
The other three men were Air Force Capt. Richard C. Yeend, Jr., of Mobile, Alabama.; Air Force Staff Sgt. Elmer L. Holden, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma., and Air Force Sgt. James D. Locker, of Sidney, Ohio.
Lt. Rittichier was serving with the U.S. Air Force on an exchange program at the time, and was piloting the aircraft, with Capt. Yeend serving as co-pilot. Sgts. Holden and Locker were members of the aircrew.
May they never be forgotten, and may they rest in peace.
