CLAYTON RICHARD A

CW4 Richard A. Clayton was a VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 07/01/2014 (Exact date not known.) from Pneumonia
Lafayette, LA
Flight Classes 71-19 and 71-17
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with 192 AHC in 71, B/7/17 CAV in 72, H/17 CAV in 72
Call signs in Vietnam POLECAT, SCALPHUNTER 19
This information was provided by Sammie Williams

More detail on this person: Richard Allen Clayton, 63, of Lafayette, Louisiana, the youngest son of the late Edwin and Irene Clayton of Manchester, Vermont, passed away due to pneumonia this past week.

A 1969 graduate of Burr Burton Seminary in Manchester, Vermont, and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, Richard enjoyed a long and distinguished military and civilian career, first serving as a Warrant Officer with the 192nd Assault Helicopter Company in Vietnam, which was followed by several tours of duty throughout the country and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Later, he served as a Senior Flight Instructor and Safety Officer at the Fixed Wing Aviation Army Training Site in West Virginia. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, he accompanied an inspection tour of Kuwait and Iraq. Among other commendations, Richard Clayton was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.

After leaving government service in 2008, Mr. Clayton accepted a position with FlightSafety International, and was serving as Director of Training in Lafayette, Louisiana at the time of his death.

Richard is survived by his wife Kristin and their children: Richard, of Blacksburg, Virginia, and Anne, of Monroeville, Pennsylvania. He is also survived by two sisters, Ethel McWayne of Rutland, Vermont, and Janice Bruce of White Plains, New York; and by his brothers, Ken Clayton of Vergennes, Vermont, Alford Clayton of West Arlington, Vermont, and Arnold and Jerry Clayton, both of Bennington, Vermont. His brother, Neale Clayton of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, predeceased him in January of 2008.

Private services will be held at the Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C.

Published in Rutland Herald on Aug. 1, 2014

Burial information: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA

This information was last updated 08/26/2017

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Date posted on this site: 08/31/2024