Spec Ralph Allan Vitch Veteran

Birth: 4 Mar 1949
Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA
Death: 25 May 1969 (aged 20)
Vietnam
Burial: Garden of Memories Cemetery

Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA Add to Map
Plot: Garden of Gethsemene, Section 11
Memorial ID: 57126129 View Source

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SP4 E4. KIA by a sniper. 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, U.S. Army. Awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
SP4 Vitch was featured in the June 27, 1969 LIFE magazine cover article entitled "The Faces of the American Dead in Vietnam: One Week's Toll."
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall: Panel 24W, Line 108.

Inscription

FLORIDA
SP4 US ARMY
VIETNAM BSM PH
MARCH 4 1949 MAY 25 1969

Family Members

Parents

Betty Ruth Sanks Vitch

1924–1983

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Garden of Memories Cemetery
Tampa
Hillsborough County
Florida
USA
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Florida
Hillsborough County
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Garden of Memories Cemetery

Maintained by: Florida Boy 64
Originally Created by: GravesScribe
Added: Aug 15, 2010
Find a Grave Memorial ID:
Sponsored by Florida Boy 64
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Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/57126129/ralph_allan-vitch: accessed ), memorial page for Spec Ralph Allan Vitch (4 Mar 1949–25 May 1969), Find a Grave Memorial ID 57126129, citing Garden of Memories Cemetery, Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA; Maintained by Florida Boy 64 (contributor 47614557).

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Added by: Margaret Tomer Rummens on 01 Dec 2011

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Mark Orr, Lt Gottschalk, Buddha Tavitas and Ralph Vitch.

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Located in Garden of Gethsemene (Sect. 11)

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Spec Ralph Allan Vitch

"I first met Ralph when he returned to the field from some Ghost Time3 in the rear.

We were on the beseiged Fire Support Base Professional then.

He had been in the company a while and I was a cherry. I have no idea how many prior operations he had participated in.

He was a rifleman in my squad, same as me. He was KIA within several weeks, on 25 May 1969.

A very brave soldier and genuinely nice guy."

Memories about Ralph From Fellow Officer

Added by: gwtwqueenie on 18 May 2016

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"Last Known Activity:

Ralph began his tour in Viet Nam on 11-27-1968. He was a member (rifleman) of third squad, third platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 501st infantry, 101st Airborne Brigade.

He was KIA on 25 May 1969, after he assaulted and penetrated an NVA bunker and dispatched the machine gunner inside and a second NVA soldier.

He was shot by a sniper as he emerged on the back sideof the bunker.

He was medevaced and we received word of his death that evening.

Other company members during our tour who have profiles on this site:

Waldemar Geiger - KIA
Doc Roy Gargus - KIA
Eugene Lunn - KIA
"Hutch" Davis - KIA
Mike O'Leery - KIA
Bob D. Webb - deceased
Mario Lamelza - KIA
"Cochise" Bunner - Deceased
Johnny S. Conroy
Ed Pettit - Deceased

Comments/Citation: 44 years ago today, Ralph. The guys from the 3rd platoon, the company really, and especially the 3rd Squad have not forgotten you and your sacrifice.

The 101st Airborne Division historian released a timeline to us last week, of the whole division's ops, losses and awards through the years and you and Mario are mentioned in detail.

Rest in peace. 25 May 1969 - 25 May 2013.

25 May 2014 - Sill remembering you this Memorial Day, 45 years to the day after your death and what a good person and inspiration you were to the entire company.

R.I.P., Brother."

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Added by: gwtwqueenie on 18 May 2016

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