More detail on this person: Attached is an
obituary from the Portland (ME) Press Herald for
James M. Riley. I met Jim when he and I enlisted
in the army for the Warrant Officer Flight
Training Program. Jim was already a veteran of a
four year enlistment in the US Air Force, and was
serving as a police officer in Portland, Maine
when the desire to fly helicopters apparently
caused him to make a carrer change. We attended
basic training at Fort Dix, NJ together and flight
school at Fort Wolters, TX and Fort Rucker, AL.
Although Jim's name appears on a flight school
class roster as having graduated with WORWAC
Class 66-17, I believe he actually graduated with
66-19, or perhaps a later class due to a late in
the flight training program medical problem. This information was last updated 05/18/2016
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
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Date posted on this site:
03/10/2024
Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association
In any event, Jim graduated from flight school and
flew helicopters in Vietnam with the 25th Infantry
Division. Although I never saw Jim's name among
the members of VHPA, he nonetheless was a
Vietnam Helicopter Pilot and I wanted to pass the
news of his death on to anyone who may have
served with him.
From: Kevin Bagley
Parma, OH - James Michael Riley, 68, passed
away Friday, March 9, 2007, after a long and
courageous battle with cancer. James was a
Vietnam Veteran, a Metro Life Flight pilot, and an
established pool league player. He had also been
recognized for his heroism while serving as a
police officer. He was the beloved father of
James Michael Riley II, Julie Ann Pierce, and
Jeffrey Thomas Riley; dear grandfather of
Alexander Thomas Rilye, and Andrew James Riley;
cherished brother of Theresa Morris; and devoted
friend of Roger Coffey.
Memorial service Thursday, March 15, 2007, at 10
a.m. at Busch Funeral Home, 7501 Ridge Rd.,
Parma, Ohio. Burial will follow in Ohio Western
National Reserve Cemetery. In lieu of flowers,
memorials may be made to: St. Jude's Children's
Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee
38105
Busch Funeral and Crematory Services
440-842-7800. For more information, to view an
online memorial, or to send condolence, go to
www.buschfuneral.com