RAETZ PAUL E

MAJ Paul E Raetz was a VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 03/01/2015 at the age of 77.6 (Exact date not known.)
Bradenton, FL
Flight Classes 63-2 and 67-8QC
Date of Birth 08/03/1937
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with 120 AVN in 63, 145 CAB in 63-64, 162 AHC in 68, 12 CAG in 68, 135 AHC in 68-69
Call signs in Vietnam BLACKHORSE, BLACKJACK 7, EMU 6
This information was provided by Tom Kirk

More detail on this person: Paul was born in Hong Kong on August 3, 1937 to Erwin and Florence Raetz. Together with his mother and sister, he was captured by the Japanese in December 1941 and held prisoner for seven months. They were sent back to America as exchange prisoners of war and the family lived in a variety of locations until returning to Canton, China in 1946. Forced to leave by advancing Chinese Communist forces in 1946, the family moved to Hong Kong, returning to America in December of 1950. Upon graduation from Gobles High School (Gobles, MI) in 1954, Paul entered Wheaton College (Wheaton, IL) from which he graduated in 1958 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in the U.S. Army. His 20 years of service in the army included training as a paratrooper, Ranger, and fixed and rotary-wing aviator, with foreign tours in Korea (twice), France, Germany, Vietnam (twice) and Thailand. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Joint Services Commendation Medal. He is survived by his wife, Susan Miller Raetz; step daughters, Becky (Rich) Gatanis and Libby (Steve) Jaquith; step son David (Nellie) Fleming, Jr.; sister, Trudie Ribbons; nieces, Erin (Mark) Voss and Meghan (Don) Davis and 8 grandchildren. Visitation will be Wed., March 4th, 6:00-800 pm at Griffith-Cline Funeral Home. Funeral Service will be Thurs., March 5, 11:00 am at First United Methodist Church with Burial at 2:00 pm at Sarasota National Cemetery. www.Griffith-Cline.com

Burial information: Sarasota National Cemetery, Sarasota, FL

This information was last updated 04/06/2020

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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024