CW-2 Richard Derosier
D 3 January 1971
Troop,
Long Knife pilot Tim Dahlen worked to get KIA Trooper, Richard Derosier's family recognized and presented with
Gold Star documentation for service of their Father while in D Troop.
All his efforts came together on Memorial Day 2017.
Both Daughters and Richard's Grandson were in attendance.
War Wagon pilot, George Bloodworth traveled from Georgia to attend.
As you read the proclamation you will understand George's connection to the Family.
Below is correspondence that better describes the events than the Troop webmaster ever could.
Tim's note is followed by some photographs of the day and then the Mayoral Proclamation.
It's all GOOD!
********************************************
Don,
Just a short note to explain the shots from
Claremont, New Hampshire this weekend. George got in on
Saturday and met with Bonnie and Wendy Derosier.
Not until Friday did we know about Bonnie the older sister.
There were so many questions for George to answer
and still more to come.
There is a photo album with numerous pictures which
had little or no descriptive narrative for them to
understand what they were looking at.
George took the album and numerous loose photos and
memorabilia back to his hotel room and began the process
of sorting and explaining what they represented.
There was there silk ransom cloth with the American
Flag on it that came back with Richards personal
belongings.
(George mentioned that the girls want the Troop to
have this for display at our future reunions)
A tail rotor pitch change link that Richard
fashioned into a key chain for his locker.
Just many, many items that even surprised and brought back memories of items in our everyday life that we had forgotten about.
George will be quite busy for the next several months sorting all this out for the girls and Richards Grandson Chris.
I am sure there will be more photos from the
daughters with George at other locations and times.
I stayed remote from George and the family as much as possible as it was apparent there was a lot of emotion
for him and them and it was better left
between them.
I know for me this was the most meaningful
Memorial Day in my life.
I truly felt, and I am sure George did also, that this is what Memorial Day is all about.
I informed the Ladies and Chris that they are always welcome to any of the Troop events and will be kept informed of such in the future.
Be well, be safe Brother,
Tim
George and I meeting LTC Kenny New Hampshire State Adjutant
Taps
I am reading the Proclamations
Chris Howes
Wendy’s son, Richards Grandson.
Iraqi war veteran medically retired from the Army IED explosion left him with limited use in arm and leg and blind in one eye.
A true Warrior
Right Wendy, Me, Bonnie, George.
The dynamic duo George and I Wendy Derosier sitting to the right in the photo.
Memorial Day 2017
Mayoral Proclamation
Over 46 years ago, this community lost Warrant Officer (WO) Richard T. Derosier and First Lieutenant
(1LT) Formichelli during the Vietnam War. Though their lives were cut short prematurely, they each left
a living legacy. This Memorial Day, May 29th, we will have the opportunity to honor these men and the
families that they left behind. I hope you will join me at this special ceremony in Broad Street Park
which will begin around 11am after the conclusion of the parade which starts at 10am.
Here is their story:
Richard Derosier was born July 10th in 1940, and attended Stevens High School. While there he decided
to join the Army. After serving several years as an artilleryman and completing one tour in Vietnam, he
decided to go to flight school to learn how to fly helicopters. During flight training he became close
friends with Conrad Wheeler and George Bloodworth. After graduating from flight school, the three
were assigned to Vietnam. In October 1969, WO Derosier was the trail helicopter during a scouting
mission in which WO Wheeler was the lead. While engaging the enemy, Wheeler’s helicopter was hit
and burst into flames killing both him and his observer. One of the tragedies of war is the inevitable
loss of friends, and the need to continue the mission despite the loss. Towards the end of his second
tour in Vietnam and after flying 130 combat missions, WO Derosier transferred to his Troop’s
maintenance division where he became a maintenance test pilot. Not long after this, he was asked to
perform a maintenance test on a helicopter that had mechanical issues. During that test flight, the
helicopter crashed, killing WO Derosier and the other individual on board. When he died on January 3rd
in 1970, he was not yet 30 years old. He left behind a wife and two young daughters, Bonnie and Wendy.
Both girls later married, had children and now have grandchildren.
Wendy’s son, Chris, decided to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps and joined the Army.
He was deployed to Iraq and injured by an Improvised Explosive Device in 2006.
As a result of the blast, he sustained multiple injuries and lost sight in one eye.
Since that time, he has undergone multiple surgeries and traveled the long road to recovery.
Though he permanently lost sight in one eye, he is now back home with his family in Newport, NH.
Joe Formichelli did not grow up in Claremont, but moved here from New York with his family at the age
of 12. Both his older brother, John, and he graduated from Stevens High School in 1958 and 1962
respectively. Joe then went to Jacksonville University where he met his future wife, Barbara. Soon
after completing his degree, he and Barbara married. Joe joined the Army in 1968, serving three years
as an infantry officer with one tour in Vietnam. While leading a platoon against a Viet Cong position, he
was hit by an AK-47 round that split his helmet in two. Though the round did not hit him, the force of
the impact threw him to the ground. Given he was 6’7”, the impact must have been horrific and,
according to his fellow soldiers, he suffered severe headaches throughout the rest of his tour. Not too
long after rotating back to the States, he died at the age of 27 from a massive brain aneurysm which
military medical doctors attribute to the incident in Vietnam. Joe left behind his wife, Barbara, who was
then 7 months pregnant with their son.
She named their son Joe. Later, she remarried and had three more sons. Her son Joe decided to follow
in his father’s footsteps and joined the Army. He became a member of the Special Forces, often
deploying to combat zones and engaging in dangerous missions.
This year, he is retiring after 22 years of serving his nation.
Both of these men died in the prime of their lives while serving our nation. They both chose military
professions with some of the highest mortality rates in Vietnam. Both were highly decorated. Both left
behind families who bore the pain of heartbreaking loss. Both families carried on the tradition of
military service risking, once again, the possibility of great sacrifice.
This Memorial Day we stand with these families and the veterans who served with them,
and acknowledge all who have paid the ultimate price.
Charlene Lovett is the Mayor of Claremont and welcomes your feedback. Please email questions,
comment s or concerns to her at clovett.ccc@gmail.com
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