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LUTHER EDMOND RITCHEY JR.
Name: Luther Edmond Ritchey, Jr.
Rank/Branch: E3/US Marine Corps
Unit: HMM 361, Marine Air Group 16
Date of Birth: 27 January 1943
Home City of Record: Mansfield Ohio
Date of Loss: 08 October 1963
Country of Loss: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 160207N 1073440E (YC758744)
Status (in 1973): Killed/Body Not Recovered
Category: 3
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: Aircraft UH34D
Refno: 0019
Other Personnel In Incident: DAVIDSON DONALD FREDERICK, DENTON MANUEL REYES, FARRELL BRUCE CHARLES, HARRIS WILLIAM THOMAS, JAMESON LARRY DUANE, LESSIG DANIEL KEPNER, RICE CLAUDE, RICHARDSON ARTHUR GENE, RITCHEY LUTHER EDMOND JR, SKOVIAK RONALD FRANK, TUTHILL CHARLES PRESTON, WHITEHEAD CHARLES F JR
Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 01 April 1990 from one or more of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews. Updated by the P.O.W. NETWORK 2004
Comments on Incident: The two UH-34's that were lost on this date were on a SAR mission for two downed pilots in a VNAF T-28 (oneVietnamese & one US Air Force). According to contemporary news accounts, the nine Marines and three Navy medical personnel killed represented the biggest loss of American lives from a single incident up to that time in the war. Cpl. Charles Tuthill was the NCOIC of the SHUFLY photo lab at the time of his death. Submitted by Dave Hugel, worked in the SHUFLY Photo Lab. Comments on Incident: See Combat Photos Page, At 361 Crash Site, 1963 Comments on Incident: Conclusion of Investigative Report by Maj. Robert V. Reese, HMM-361: "The place of the accident [site of the wreckage] was identified as 240 degrees, 43 miles from Danang, RVN." "The subject men were killed when their helicopters crashed while on a combat rescue mission in South Vietnam. The actual cause of the crashes could not be determined; it is presumed that the men died as a result of injuries sustained in the crashes. Their deaths are not attributable to the intent, fault, negligence or inefficiency of any person in the naval service." "About 081930H October 1963, the pilot of the L-19 [Army] lost visual and radio contact with the two helicopters and returned to base. Prior to both aircraft being declared overdue or assumed missing, search operations were initiated. Due to deteriorating weather conditions, the search was discontinued until first light of the next day, 9 October 1963." "Rescue operations - at first light 9 October 1963, two squadron helicopters accompanied by an O-1B weather reconnaissance aircraft were launched on a search for the missing helicopters. The search aircraft sighted the wreckage ... The first troop carrying helicopter made an approach to the landing zone and was fired at by an enemy automatic weapon, hit, wounding the copilot and killing an RVN trooper in the passenger compartment." "During one troop lift, the wreckage of the second Marine helicopter ... was found within approximately 500-600 yards from the first crash site in dense jungle growth with no apparent survivors ... Enemy small arms fire continued intermittently throughout the period. At the completion of operations, three Marine pilots had been wounded." On 10 October 6 bodies from one aircraft and the body of the pilot of the second a/c were recovered. The next day three additional bodies were recovered from the other aircraft. The remains of LCpl Ritchey and HM3 Denton were not recovered (thorough search within a 250 yard radius). "Due to the condition of the wreckage, conclusive evidence existed beyond a reasonable doubt that both were dead and that they had died in the same accident at the same time as the other crew members." Comments on Incident: Be advised that in an article written by David Kranz of the "Argus Leader" of Sioux Falls SD, it is reported that a Vietnam veteran named Doug Haugstad while on a humanitarian mission in Vietnam was handed a package by a middle aged woman that contained two brittle teeth, and a military dog tag with the name: Ritchey, Luther E. Jr. This woman told him these items came from a helicopter that had crashed during the war. This happened near the village of Tuy Hoa, about 100 miles south of DaNang. The woman told him, "Here, take them back." These items were eventually sent to the Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii and they said that tests showed they were almost certainly the remains of Ritchey. This should bring some closure to the family and squadron members who knew LCpl Ritchey. The newspaper item included a picture of Ritchey and a UH34D... Submitted by Roger Lawson, previously of HMM-16
From: ****************
Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 17:20:06 EST
Subject: LUTHER RITCHEY, JR. ..A MOTHER`S SON...HOME, AT LAST!
X-Mailer: 8.0 for Windows sub 6024
"My heart is heavy and my eyes have been filling with tears for the past two weeks, and yet, I am so glad that Dorothy, Luther Ritchey, Jr`s 84 yr old Mother, before parting this world herself, finally has closure after 40 years. She was visited by Marine officers from Quantico,Va. on the 26th of January with information that Jr`s remains, were indeed, HOME AT LAST! Only a few teeth & fragments, in a flag-draped coffin, are being shipped here, to Mansfield, Ohio, .....but.....Luther will be home, AT LAST! Am not quite sure of the date, yet, but will let you know. We are going to have the POW-MIA race car (Jr.`s name is listed on the body) at the cemetary, in Hayesville, where there is already a headstone placed for him. We are also contacting all Vietnam Veterans in the area, and all chapters of Rolling Thunder/Ohio, along with VFW members & their Honor & Color Guards. Though I did not personally know Jr., my husband & he went thru school together and were very close friends. I guess because of all of the stories that my husband and his friends have shared with me, I feel as though I knew him. Wanted to let you know 1st hand and to thank you all for keeping the POW-MIA issue in the forefront of this Country! With my love.......Pam ******
From: *******************
Date: Mon, 5 Apr 2004 22:44:09 EDT
THIS HAS BEEN CONFIRMED, NOT BY THE DOD, BUT BY HIS 84 YEAR OLD MOTHER.......LUTHER RITCHEY, JR, IS FINALLY COMING HOME, AFTER NEARLY 40 YEARS. MY HUSBAND & JR. WERE VERY CLOSE FRIENDS IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND MARINE OFFICERS FROM QUANTICO, VA. ARRIVED AT MRS. RITCHEY`S HOME ON JAN. 26TH 2004 TO INFORM HER THAT HER WAIT FOR HER BOY, FINALLY HAD CLOSURE. A FEW TEETH & BONE FRAGMENTS WILL BE LAID TO REST IN A FLAG-DRAPED CASKET ON MAY 22ND, 2004, IN THE SMALL COUNTRYSIDE TOWN OF HAYESVILLE, OHIO, IN VERMILLION CEMETARY, WHERE LUTHER`S PARENTS HAD A HEADSTONE PLACED IN HIS HONOR 30 YEARS AGO. LUTHER`S CHOPPER WAS SHOT DOWN DURING A SEARCH & RESCUE MISSION ON THE VERY DAY THAT HE ARRIVED IN CHU NAM, S. VIETNAM ON OCTOBER 8, 1963. HE WAS 20 YEARS YOUNG. I WAS TOLD, BY A CLOSE FAMILY MEMBER, THAT A YEAR AFTER THE INCIDENT, HIS PARENTS WERE TOLD THAT HIS REMAINS WERE BEING SENT HOME. WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT THE FUNERAL HOME, HIS FATHER, TOTALLY DISTRAUGHT AND UNCONVINCED, DEMANDED THE CASKET BE OPENED, ONLY TO FIND SAND BAGS AND A FEW MECHANICAL PARTS, INSTEAD OF THE REMAINS OF HIS ELDEST SON! ONE WONDERS HOW MANY TIMES THIS MUST HAVE HAPPENED!!!!!! THERE WILL BE SERVICES AT THE ONTARIO METHODIST CHURCH, JUST OUTSIDE OF MANSFIELD, OHIO, SCHEDULED FOR 2:00PM ON THE 22ND OF MAY. WE ARE UNSURE OF THE TIME OF ARRIVAL AT VERMILLION CEMETARY, BUT ANYONE WHO WANTS TO PAY THEIR RESPECTS TO LUTHER......PLEASE.....CONTACT US. WE NEED TO ALL BE PRESENT TO WELCOME HOME ONE OF OUR HEROES........ ONE WHO GAVE ALL!!!!!!!!! WE NEED ANY & ALL VETERANS.......VFW.....AMVETS....... AMERICAN LEGION........ROLLING THUNDER........TO HONOR HIM. Welcome Home, Luther. We missed you..... We Love You! Rest in Peace, Beloved Son......For You Are HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!! IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT ME: THANK YOU..............PAM *****
