DODGE RICHARD L

WO1 Richard L Dodge was a potential VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 10/18/2017 at the age of 73.0
Boise, ID
Flight Classes 67-1 and 66-23
Date of Birth 10/29/1944
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with 174 AHC in 67-68
This information was provided by Sammie Williams

More detail on this person: Richard "Rick" Dodge, born October 29th, 1944, in Boise, ID, passed away October 18th, 2017. Son of Richard "Dick" and Tressa (Lewis) Dodge, Rick shared many happy times in their family home on Madison St. with his sister Patricia (Dodge) Newcomb. When Dick wasn't selling cars, he coached his wife and children in competitive rifle shooting where Rick excelled to the national level as a teenager. A 1963 Graduate of Boise High School, Rick went on to attend the University of Idaho before joining the Army February 1st 1966. He met his wife, Linda (Edwards) Dodge, while attending helicopter flight school in Fort Wolters, Texas. Soon after, Rick and Linda were married on the eve of his graduation from advanced flight training in Fort Rucker, Alabama. Following a short honeymoon, Rick flew Shark Gun Ships and Medivacs during his first tour in Vietnam. Upon his return, was sent to Fort Belvoir, Virginia, until 1970 when he returned to Vietnam to fly heavy-transport Crane helicopters. The next decade included several aviation assignments, training at Signal Corps at Fort Gordon, Georgia, a move to Fort Hood, Texas, then back to Fort Polk before heading to Goeppingen, Germany in 1980. December 1983, Rick and Linda had their daughter, Tressa Dodge, in Fort Worth, Texas before reporting to Joint Forces training in Norfolk, VA. In 1984, they moved to Fort Ord, California, where Rick commanded the Air Traffic Control Battalion for the 7th Infantry Division. Returning to Fort Hood, Texas, in 1988, Rick commanded the Aviation Battalion of the 6th Cavalry Brigade. In 1992, the family moved to Izmir, Turkey where Colonel Dodge served a prominent position for more than two years with NATO Joint Forces, before returning to the States. While in Fort Lewis, Washington in 1995, Rick Dodge retired from the Army after nearly 30 years of Military service. Awarded several times during his career including; Defense Superior Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal with Combat Distinguished Device "V", Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Valorous Unit Award, National Defense, Master Army Aviator Badge and the Legion of Merit. Rick spent his retirement back home with his extended family first in Boise, then in 2002 moved to Wilder, Idaho. He enjoyed sports throughout his life, working on classic cars, and several other hobbies. Much of his time was spent with his beloved dogs and friends with the GSP Club of Idaho. He also served on the National German Shorthaired Pointer Association Board of Trustees for the past decade. Rick has been blessed with good dogs, great horses, the best of friends, and a loving family over the years. He is preceded in death by his parents Dick and Tressa Dodge; grandparents Roscoe and Margery Dodge, Herbert and Anna Lewis. He leaves behind his wife of 50 years, Linda Dodge; daughter Tressa Dodge; granddaughter Kara Dodge; sister Patricia Newcomb; Aunt Judy Lewis-Prater; nieces and nephews Patti (Newcomb) and David Waldrep, Taylor Waldrep, Doug, Sheila, Josh and Joel Newcomb, Alex Semaha, Alex and Jessica Gibbons; cousin Cindy and her daughter Katie Kithcart, and Meg Mitchell. A service will be on Monday October 30, 2017 at 12:30 PM at Summers Funeral Home, Boise Chapel. Rick will be laid to rest at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery. Published in the Idaho Statesman

Burial information: Idaho State Veterans Cemetery, Boise, Idaho

This information was last updated 11/22/2017

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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024


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