John Vernon Rauen
Warrant Officer
498TH MED CO (AA), 61ST MED BN, 67TH MED GROUP, USARV MED CMD, USARV
Army of the United States
Seattle, Washington
October 23, 1948 to February 20, 1971
JOHN V RAUEN is on the Wall at Panel W5, Line 126

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John V Rauen
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28 Feb 2004

John, you were a good friend and flight school classmate. You were a great guy and are greatly missed. Your ready smile and great sense of humor were always there to cheer me up when you were around. See you again one of these days.

Willard G. Rusk
Dustoff 32
neshonoc1@aol.com


 
11 May 2004

I worked the summers, post high school graduation, with John at the Seattle Park Department. I remember him so well. What a great sense of humor and always in an uplifting mood.

John was one of 17 friends of mine who lost their life in the service of our country. My freedoms and the blessings of liberty, that I and my family enjoy, are paid for by the sacrifices of high caliber men like John.

Thank you, John, your sacrifice will always be revered.

From a friend,
Dennis R. Anderson
Lt Col USAF (Ret)
capnandy737@aol.com


 

Notes from The Virtual Wall

In February 1971, US air and South Vietnamese ground forces were heavily engaged in the Tchepone area of Laos in an effort to disrupt enemy use of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Air support for these forces flew from a number of base camps along the Lao/SVN border. On 20 Feb 71 DUSTOFF 30, a UH-1H (tail number 69-15273) of the 498th Medical Company, was on standby at Khe Sanh. The crew consisted of At about 2150 DUSTOFF 30 was alerted for an extended medevac mission. The aircraft commander elected to refuel his aircraft before departure and was cleared to fly from the 498th Med hardstand to the refueling point. The short flight and the refueling were accomplished without incident. Upon completion, Khe Sanh tower cleared DUSTOFF 30 for takeoff. DUSTOFF 30 lifted off heading north and climbed to about 60 to 80 feet before banking to a southeasterly heading. As it reached the approach end of Runway 09 it entered a heavy bank of ground fog. Witnesses stated that DUSTOFF 30 then made a hard descending left turn to clear the fog, but impacted the ground. The aircraft continued in motion for several hundred feet, breaking into two main pieces. Warrant Officer Rauen and SP4 Gilliland died in the crash. The other two men survived the crash itself but died of injuries received, SP4 Levulis on 21 Feb 71 and Warrant Officer Souther on 26 Feb 71.

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