RILEY JAMES M

WO1 James M. Riley was a potential VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 03/09/2007 at the age of 68.4 from Cancer
Cleveland, OH
Flight Classes 66-17 and 66-15
Date of Birth 10/01/1938
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with 25 AVN 25 INF in 66-67
This information was provided by Dennis Fay, Kevin Bagley

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.

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

This information was last updated 05/18/2016

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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024


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