BURCHETT FLOYD RAY

1LT Floyd Ray Burchett was a VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 09/08/2011 at the age of 65.3
Battle Ground, IN
Flight Class 70-40
Date of Birth 05/13/1946
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with 236 MED DET in 71-72
Call sign in Vietnam DUSTOFF 602
This information was provided by Barry Geller, Dave Garner

More detail on this person: Lafayette Journal & Courier, Sept. 11, 2011

Floyd Ray Burchett, 65, of Battle Ground, died at his residence on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011, after a lengthy illness.

He was born on May 13, 1946, in Tippecanoe County, graduated from Battle Ground High School in 1964 and Purdue University in 1968. He was attending The Ohio State University School of Physical Therapy when drafted into the Army in 1969. He later earned his master's from Webster University, St. Louis, and was an honor graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.

While assigned to the U.S. Army Special Forces at Fort Bragg, N.C., he was tendered appointment into the Medical Service Corps to attend rotary wing flight school. After graduating from flight school, he was assigned to aeromedical evacuation pilot duties in Vietnam where he earned several awards, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal for Valor, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star and Master Aviator Wings from the Army. He retired from the Army in 1988.

He later accepted an administrative position at Purdue University, from which he retired in 2003. He was also elected Tippecanoe Township trustee/assessor from 1991 to 2003.

Mr. Burchett enjoyed sports, gardening, and fishing. He was a qualified parachutist and was certified in scuba diving. He was a lifetime member of the DUSTOFF Association for medical evacuation pilots and crewmembers, Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, American Legion and Disabled American Veterans Association.

Surviving with his wife, Suzanne Kotowski Burchett, are two daughters, Bridget Patterson (husband: James) and Jennifer Burchett; three sisters, Marjorie Sands (husband: John), Virginia Collins (husband: Bill), both of Lafayette, and Shirley Brooks (husband: Randy) of Decatur, Ill.

Also surviving are 3 grandchildren and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. Preceded in death by his parents, Floyd C. and E. Pearl Treece Burchett, and 2 sisters, Ethel Kiser-Hopkins and Mary Jo Burchett.

A memorial visitation will take place from 10-11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011, with a memorial service to follow at 11 a.m., at Hippensteel Funeral Home, Monsignor Robert Sell officiating.

This information was last updated 05/18/2016

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Date posted on this site: 05/13/2023