Lt. Jack Rittichier, Coast Guard aviator killed in action in Vietnam in 1968, was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery in October 2003. He joined the United States Coast Guard on September 26, 1963, and served as a search and rescue pilot until his death on June 9, 1968. The military never gave up trying to locate the crash site and its crew. However, it was not until November 9, 2002 that the crash site of the Jolly Green 23 was finally located. On January 17, 2003, excavation began on the site, and on February 14, 2003, the remains of the four crew members were repatriated. Positive identification was made in August of 2003, and Jack was buried with full military honors on October 6, 2003 in an area of Arlington National Cemetery known as Coast Guard Hill. US Coast Guard Art Program 2004 Collection, Od ID # 200439, "Funeral procession: Lt. Jack Rittichier," Margaret Graham Kranking, watercolor, 22 x 30
