In Loving Memory of ... AT2 RICHARD DANIEL WIEHR.
*** Volunteer - I searched the entire cemetery and could not find the grave.
*** Aviation Electronics Technician, Second Class Wiehr was a member of Detachment 4, Tactical Electronic War Squadron 130, Carrier Air Wing 2 aboard the aircraft carrier USS RANGER (CVA-61). On January 21, 1973, he was the electronic engineer of a Special Electronic Tanker (EKA-3B) preparing for a night launch. The catapult failed and the aircraft fell over the side of the ship. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in me, your brother, sisters and those who knew you and loved you. You will live on because we remember you!

RICHARD DANIEL WIEHR - Navy - AT2 - E5
Age: 22
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth Sep 6, 1950 - Born in Montevideo, MN.
From: MANKATO, MN
Religion: PROTESTANT
Marital Status: Married - Kathy Kay Wiehr. (Kathy Kay Kohn was born on November 21, 1951 in New Ulm to Marvin and Florence (Lindemann) Kohn. She was a graduate of New Ulm Public High School. On February 21, 1970 she was united in marriage to Richard Wiehr of Mankato. They had a one son, Chad. Richard did not return from the Vietnam War. )
* Parents: Father, Kenneth Curtis Wiehr, Born May 25, 1922 and Deceased June 1972 at the age of 50 yrs in Xwat,Wisconsin(Re-married Mildred E. Pufpaff Feb. 14, 1963 at the age of 40 yrs.) and Mother, Violet Marian Cuhlers Macho (Re-married to Bernard W. Macho of Mankato, Minn.), Born Jan. 29, 1927, of Minn., MN.
* Sister, Geraldine Anne Wiehr - (married Harvey Richard Holcomb and they had sons, Harvey Richard Holcomb Jr. in April 22, 1963 in Blue Earth, Minnesota and Daniel Victor Holcomb, born Nov. 10, 1964, Daughter, Dawn Marie Holcomb, born Dec. 8, 1965)., born April 28, 1944 in Chippewa, Minnesota.
* Sister, Kathleen Mae Weihr, Born April 25, 1945 in Chippewa, Minn.
* Maternal Grandparents: Grandfather, Kort Cuhlers of Germany and Grandmother, Albertine Cuhlers also of Germany.(In 1940 he was 71 yrs and she was 45 and Violet was 13 yrs.)
* Paternal Grandparents: Grandfather, Lewis H. Wiehr and Frances Wiehr, both born in Minnesota.


***** "Minnesota, Birth Index, 1935-2002"
Name: Richard Daniel Wiehr
Titles and Terms:
Event Type: Birth
Event Date: 6 Sep 1950
Event Place: Chippewa, Minnesota
Father's Name: Kenneth Curtis Wiehr
Mother's Name: Violet Marian Cuhlers

***** Name: Violet Cuhlers - YOUR MOM
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1940
Event Place: Clara, Clara City Village, Chippewa, Minnesota, United States
Gender: Female
Age: 13
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Relationship to Head of Household: Daughter
Birthplace: Minnesota
Birth Year (Estimated): 1927
Last Place of Residence: Same House
Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
Kort Cuhlers Head M 71 Germany
Albertine Cuhlers Wife F 45 Germany
Violet Cuhlers Daughter F 13 Minnesota

***** Name: Kenneth W Wiehr - YOUR DAD
Event Type: Census
Event Year: 1930
Event Place: Wood Lake, Yellow Medicine, Minnesota, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 7
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Relationship to Head of Household: Son
Birth Year (Estimated): 1923
Birthplace: Minnesota
Father's Birthplace: Minnesota
Mother's Birthplace: Minnesota
Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
Lewis H Wiehr Head M 44 Minnesota
Frances I Wiehr Wife F 37 Minnesota
Orville R Wiehr Son M 11 Minnesota
Kenneth W Wiehr Son M 7 Minnesota

AT2 - E5 - Navy - Regular
Casualty was on Jan 21, 1973
In NORTH VIETNAM
MILITARY DATA
Service: United States Navy
Grade at loss: E5
Rank: Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd Class
ID No: 473587564
MOS: 0000: Not Recorded
Length Service: **
Unit: VAQ-130, CVW-2, USS RANGER, TF 77, 7TH FLEET

CASUALTY DATA
Incident Date: 01/21/1973
Casualty Date: 01/21/1973
Age at Loss: 22
Location: Gulf of Tonkin, North Vietnam
Remains: Body not recovered
Casualty Type: Non-hostile, died of other causes
Casualty Reason: Fixed Wing - Crew
Casualty Detail: Air loss or crash at sea

NON-HOSTILE, FIXED WING - CREW
AIR LOSS, CRASH AT SEA

Body was not recovered
Panel 01W - Line 111

Other Personnel In Incident: Charles L. Parker; Keith A. Christophersen (missing)

On January 21, 1973, the USS RANGER was conducting flight operations in the Gulf of Tonkin about 100 miles off the shore of North Vietnam (approximately east of the city of Vinh).

LtCDR Charles L. Parker was a pilot assigned to Tactical Electronic Squadron130, Detachment 4, on board the carrier USS RANGER. He was the pilot of an EKA3B tanker.

At 11:46 p.m. on January 21, 1973, the EKA3B carrying Parker, the pilot; LTJG Keith A. Christophersen, the copilot/navigator; and Petty Officer Second Class Richard D. Wiehr, the electronic technician; was preparing to launch on a night catapult launch.

After having made a normal catapult attachment and pre-launch inspection, the catapult stroke appeared to start off normally.

After about 1/3 of the launch stroke, a loud explosion was heard and the aircraft was seen to pitch nose down and sparks started to come from the right engine.

The aircraft began to decelerate and run off the end of the angle deck at a very low speed and fell over the side of the ship into the Gulf of Tonkin.

An immediate search and rescue effort was begun, but the aircraft sank very quickly and none of the crew could be recovered.

The three Americans were classified Killed/Body Not Recovered.

The crew of the EKA3B lost on January 21, 1973 are listed with honor.


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