DISTEFANO RICHARD F

CPT Richard F. DiStefano was a potential VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 11/14/1990 at the age of 46.6 from Stroke
Janesville, WI
Flight Class 71-6
Date of Birth 04/11/1944
Served in the U.S. Marine Corps
This information was provided by William H Wells, SSN Deceased search

More detail on this person: He was involved with the detonation of the mines in Hyfong harbor after the peace accord by dragging some sort of pole in the water behind his helicopter. He did not fly a Huey but the one with the twin front and back blades. CH-46. I am uncertain if he served two tours or just one that overlapped the end. I know that he did fly combat missions. He mentioned picking up Marines or soldiers under fire, the Marine firing his weapon and ducking behind the wall of the chopper, not realizing the think aluminum skin was not any real protection.

Richie died of a complications, primarily pneumonia, from a stroke 11/14/1990. He had been in coma for almost a month(?) following his stroke. I am sorry to be so fuzzy but it was not a pleasant time. Richie was one of my business partners in a Life Insurance General agency, and my closet friend as an adult. The www.findagrave.com site shows his headstone at Oak Hill in Janesville, WI.

Wife Linda, son David, daugher Deena.

From: William H Wells

Burial information: Oak Hill Cemetery, Janesville, WI

This information was last updated 03/28/2018

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Date posted on this site: 10/23/2024


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