Butch Verich
Demetrio A. "Butch" Verich (Laona, Wisconsin, United States of America, 21 June 1932 - Laona, Wisconsin, U.S.A., 15 April 2017)[1] was a highly decorated American fighter pilot in the air war in Viet Nam.[2][3]
Demetrio A. Verich was born in Laona, Wisconsin in 1932 of Serb-Montenegrin ancestry.[citation needed] In 1967, Lieutenant Commander Butch Verich, along with two other VF-162 F-8s, attacked enemy flak sites ahead of an A-4 strike. Verich's Crusader was hit by a SAM, and he ejected over hostile North Vietnamese territory.[4][not in citation given] He landed near the wreck of his burning fighter and evaded enemy troops for 15 hours, waiting for rescue and avoiding capture. The SAR effort had been suspended as night came, but soon after dawn F-8s, A-1s, and A-4s arrived in what was the largest Naval rescue operation of the Vietnam War. During this time, Verich fired a flare that directed the HS-2 rescue helicopter from the carrier HORNET (CVS-12) to his position. The pilot and his crew braved intense enemy fire to finally pull Verich up into the quivering aircraft. It took 20 minutes and three tries to grab the helicopter's rescue sling, but Verich finally grabbed hold. The helicopter pilot, Lieutenant Neil Sparks, received the Navy Cross for his exploit.
Butch was a retired attorney and Forest County District Attorney who resided in Laona, Wisconsin, most of his life.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Dame, Marketing Communications: Web | University of Notre. "In Memoriam: Demetrio "Butch" Verich, '76 J.D./MBA | The Law School | University of Notre Dame". The Law School.
- ↑ Over the Beach: The Air War in Vietnam. W. W. Norton & Company. 17 April 2005. ISBN 9780393242461. Search this book on
- ↑ Bloody Sixteen: The USS Oriskany and Air Wing 16 During the Vietnam War. U of Nebraska Press. May 2018. ISBN 9781640120075. Search this book on
- ↑ Mersky, Peter (22 May 2007). US Navy and Marine Corps A-4 Skyhawk Units of the Vietnam War. ISBN 9781846031816. Search this book on
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