More detail on this person: Jeffrie E. Wiant Jr., 59 honored for Vietnam War rescues Jeffrie E. Wiant Jr., 59 honored for Vietnam War rescues San Diego Union-Tribune, The (CA) - Wednesday, April 24, 2002 A hail of anti-aircraft and small-arms fire greeted Jeffrie E. Wiant Jr. as he positioned his helicopter to rescue a downed fighter pilot. About 50 miles over enemy territory, the then-lieutenant junior grade was on a search-and-rescue mission near Vinh, North Vietnam, in August 1968. As he completed the rescue, with small-arms fire hitting his aircraft, he realized that flying the helicopter higher would make it more vulnerable to a stream of shells and tracers. So he lifted it just high enough to clear the ground, safely making his way back to the destroyer Sterett. It was the most dramatic of four rescues he completed during the Vietnam War and resulted in the Navy Cross. "Jeff was the type of officer and aviator commanding officers dream of having," said his former commanding officer, retired Navy Cmdr. Lloyd Parthemer. Capt. Wiant, whose naval career spanned 27 years, died in his sleep Thursday at his Chula Vista home. He was 59. He had been suffering from heart problems in recent years, Parthemer said. Within three months of reporting to Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Seven, he was involved in his first rescue in Vietnam as a co-pilot. His next three rescues were in the role of aircraft commander. "Jeff Wiant was a hero," said retired Navy Capt. Mike Reber. "He carried out his duties with a quiet competence, which inspired others to excellence." In the rescue leading to the Navy Cross, Capt. Wiant had been scheduled to continue on to Laos. Doing so, however, would have been riskier yet for him and his crew, so he headed back to his ship instead. In retelling the story, he stressed that he had been "too scared" to make the turn to Laos. "That was typical of Jeff throughout his career as a naval officer," Reber said. "I remember how modest Jeff was about his role in the rescue and the faith he expressed in his crew." Capt. Wiant was born in Sheridan, Mont., where he graduated from high school before attending a Merchant Marine academy and Montana School of Mines. In January 1966, he joined the Naval Aviation Cadet program, reporting to Pensacola, Fla., for training. He received his wings in June 1967 and married Yvonne Russo, whom he met as a young cadet. Trained in Imperial Beach in an SH-3 helicopter, he was assigned in January 1968 to the newly formed Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Seven. "Capt. Wiant was regarded as one of the most qualified H-3 helicopter pilots by all of the junior pilots he came into contact with," said retired Navy Cmdr. Joe Skrzypek, a former fellow pilot. "He was respected as a courageous leader. He will always be remembered for his level-headed demeanor and fairness toward all junior as well as senior colleagues." After his Vietnam tour, Capt. Wiant attended Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey. His subsequent assignments involved several helicopter squadrons, including a tour as commanding officer of HS-2. Capt. Wiant also served as training, planning and program officer on the staff of the commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. He was an air operations officer aboard the amphibious assault ship Okinawa and served as a staff readiness officer for the commander of the anti-submarine warfare wing in the Pacific. In May 1990, he was assigned as chief of staff for the commander of U.S. forces in the Philippines, where he served until retiring from active duty in August 1993. His many naval decorations included two awards of the Legion of Merit, six Air Medals, a Navy Commendation Medal and a Presidential Unit Citation. Capt. Wiant was a director of the Naval Helicopter Association and the Naval Helicopter Historical Society, San Diego chapter. In addition to his wife, survivors include a daughter, Melisa Wiant of Chula Vista; a son, Jeffrie of San Diego; and brothers, Richard of Deer Lodge, Mont., and Roy of Anaconda, Mont. Visitation is from 4 to 9 p.m. today at Glen Abbey Chapel, Bonita. Services are scheduled for 11 a.m. tomorrow at the chapel, followed by burial with full military honors at Glen Abbey Memorial Park. Donations are suggested to a charity of choice. Jack Williams: (619) 542-4587; jack.williams@uniontrib.com
Burial information: Glen Abbey Memorial Park, Bonita, CA
This information was last updated 03/24/2021
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