SMYER RAYMOND L

WO1 Raymond "Ray" L. Smyer was a VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 03/20/2019 at the age of 73.3
Woodland, CA
Flight Classes 68-503 and 68-3
Date of Birth 12/03/1945
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with A/7/17 CAV in 68-69
Call sign in Vietnam SIERRA 69
This information was provided by Wendy Smyer Yu - Daughter

More detail on this person: Raymond L. Smyer (1945-2019), Morro Bay High School, class of 1964. Preceded in death by his wife of nearly 30 years, Christine M. Smyer. Survived by daughter Wendy Smyer Yu (and son-in-law Dan) and two granddaughters, Devin and Merlin. After flying for the 17th Air Cavalry, he went on to fly helicopters for both the US Forest Service and in the agricultural sector in coastal California. His background in aviation led to work with mainframe computers preparing for a launch of the space shuttle from Vandenberg Air Force Base (discontinued after the Challenger explosion). He liked to joke that computers, unlike helicopters, wouldn't kill you when they crashed. Throughout his life his service with the 17th Air Cav remained a source of pride.

This information was last updated 02/08/2021

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Date posted on this site: 10/13/2025