Brig. Gen. Steve Ritchie and the Rescue of Roger Locher

Brig. Gen Steve Ritchie tells the amazing story of the rescue of downed pilot Roger Locher in Vietnam in 1972.

In that same year Ritchie volunteered for his second tour in Southeast Asia and was assigned to the 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Udorn, Thailand. Flying an F-4D with the famous 555th ("Triple Nickel") Tactical Fighter Squadron, he became the only Air Force jet ace by downing a MiG-21 on May 10, another on May 31, two on July 8 and his last on Aug. 28.

After completing 339 combat missions totaling more than 800 flying hours, Ritchie returned as one of the most highly decorated pilots of the war, having received the Air Force Cross, four Silver Stars, 10 Distinguished Flying Crosses and 25 Air Medals.

His combat expertise brought him the 1972 "Mackay Trophy" for the most significant Air Force mission of the year (along with Capts. Jeff Feinstein and Charles DeBellevue), the Air Force Academy's 1972 Colonel James Jabara Award for Airmanship, and the 1972 Armed Forces Award, presented by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In 1973 he was selected as one of the "Outstanding Young Men of America," and in 1974 he received the Eugene Zuckert Award from the Civil Air Patrol.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Brig. Gen. Steve Ritchie
• Rescue
• Roger Locher

[SupertyphoonTom]

Awesome story! I love his voice. He reminds me so much of Paul Harvey!! Good Day!

[Beretverde]

Never forget the Son Tay Prison raid conducted outside of Hanoi by U.S. Army Special Forces.

[BrendaFletcherCRS]

Brought tears to my eyes! Brenda Fletcher

[Radianrsunn]

I was very blessed to meet Brig General Steve Richie. What a courageous and selfless man that honors our Country with his strength and courage. We all watch the movies especially "Platoon" that showed our honored Military Men and Women supposedly attacking one another. It is so refreshing to hear the True Story of such Comaradie and the Miltary protecting their own even for one man as he was a friend to all. I salute all of you! My father also served proudly for his country. God Bless America!!

[ChanseLFD]

Unfortunately, the blind individuals who disliked this are the very chink in our armour that prevents the furthering of this type of heroic behavior due to selfish self centered motives, and the lack of character required to lay it all down for one man. I fear the ignorance of individual fools in our own nation far more than any foe we have ever faced

[ChanseLFD]

Amen 7string!

[7stringfrypan]

I'll tell you who disliked it - parasitic Socialist assholes who want to see Western civilization collapse into rubble. Propaganda sock puppets of Commies and Jihadis, that's who.

[SweetSaviour1]

where people can be free to reach their full potential...AMEN to that! and my hats off to you sir!

[DFS101]

Very powerful & extremely well said. You Sir, are a great American.

[HDridr2000]

3 people who watched this were (unfortunately for them) manning the AK-AK guns when the fecal matter hit the rotating air movement device during Locher's exfil.

Well done, sir.. it's a wonderful thing y'all did that day.

[scotthoge74]

God bless America!

[ThePeteHowley]

This is what America is all about. And a great talk explaining it too.