Air Station Detroit Holds Memorial Ceremony for Fallen Coast Guard Pilot

DETROIT -- U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Detroit holds a memorial service June 9, 2010 for Lt. Jack C. Rittichier, who died June 9, 1968 during the Vietnam War while attempting to rescue a downed Marine pilot.

Commemorating the event at the air station were (left to right): Cmdr. Daniel Travers, the station’s commanding officer; Rear Adm. Michael N. Parks, Ninth Coast Guard District commander; Bill Forsyth of Joint Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Command (JPAC); retired Lt. Cmdr. Jim Loomis; and Allan Kaupinen, a Kent State University classmate of Rittichier.

On display were personal effects of Rittichier and a rotor blade that belonged to his downed helicopter. The rotor and other related crash site items were recovered in 2002 by an archaeological team led by Forsyth.

(U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1^st Class Chuck Reinhart)

To download high resolution imagery of this release, CLICK HERE

DETROIT – Retired Lt. Cmdr. Jim Loomis recounts the life and events leading to the death of U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Jack C. Rittichier at a memorial service June 9, 2010 at Coast Guard Air Station Detroit.

Rittichier died June 9, 1968 during the Vietnam War while attempting to rescue a downed Marine pilot.

(U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer First 1^st Class Chuck Reinhart)

To download high-resolution imagery of this image, CLICK HERE

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