DAVID J RICKEL
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HONORED ON PANEL 61E, LINE 18 OF THE WALL

DAVID J RICKEL

WALL NAME

DAVID J RICKEL

PANEL / LINE

61E/18

DATE OF BIRTH

10/05/1942

CASUALTY PROVINCE

NZ

DATE OF CASUALTY

05/16/1968

HOME OF RECORD

FT LAUDERDALE

COUNTY OF RECORD

Broward County

STATE

FL

BRANCH OF SERVICE

AIR FORCE

RANK

MAJ

Book a time
Contact Details
STATUS

MIA

REMEMBRANCES

LEFT FOR DAVID J RICKEL
POSTED ON 3.19.2019
POSTED BY: kr

Maj David J. Rickel - - Info from the POW Network (MIA)

Information about MIA Major David J. Rickel, USAFA class of 1964, from the POW Network website is at this link:

https://www.pownetwork.org/bios/r/r017.htm
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POSTED ON 1.22.2017
POSTED BY: Michael Parham

Honoring a Soldier

In the early 70's I got a POW/MIA bracelet with David Rickel's name. I did wear it until it broke, then I put it in a box.
I was looking through some memorabilia today, and came upon it. I am glad I was able to find out about him on the internet. I know his family must miss him.
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POSTED ON 8.22.2016
POSTED BY: Brian Chabot

I wear his POW/MIA bracelet

When I was 16, some twenty-eight years ago, I bought a POW/MIA bracelet. It bears the name "Maj DAVID J RICKEL". I took an oath when I bought it that I would wear it till my death or his return. It is on my wrist to this day. The engraving is getting hard to read, but I memorized it long ago.
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POSTED ON 5.16.2016
POSTED BY: Curt Carter [email protected]

Remembering An American Hero

Dear Major David J Rickel, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, Sir

Curt Carter
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POSTED ON 7.2.2015

Final Mission of CAPT David J. Rickel

Pilot CAPT David J. Rickel and navigator/bombardier LT Gerald J. Crosson Jr. were assigned an F-4D mission over North Vietnam on May 16, 1968. Rickel was four years out of the Air Force Academy where he had been named to the Superintendent's List all eight semesters he attended the Academy. He had a promising career ahead. At a point about 20 miles southwest of the city of Quang Khe, Quang Binh Province, North Vietnam, Rickel and Crosson were shot down. Other air crew in the area did not see any parachutes indicating that the two had ejected from their aircraft, nor did they hear emergency beeper signals. Searches were eventually cancelled and both men were classified Missing in Action. The Rickel and Crosson families knew that there was a good chance their men had been captured because of circumstances surrounding the loss and the loss location, and settled in to wait for the war to end, hoping for some word to come. When 591 American POWs were released from Southeast Asia in the spring of 1973, Rickel and Crosson were not among them. No returning POW reported being held with them, and their names appeared on no lists provided by the Vietnamese. Furthermore, the Vietnamese denied any knowledge of them. It was generally believed that the Americans who remained missing were dead, including Rickel and Crosson. [Taken from pownetwork.org]
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