1st Lt Richard Wood Meehan
United States Army
Meehan, 1st Lt Richard Wood; Mount Hope Cemetery
w/ 19 Oak Leaf Clusters
Lt. Richard Ward Meehan August 08, 1966
FREDERICK NEWS-POST August 11, 1966
LT. RICHARD MEEHAN KILLED IN VIET ACTION
At 2:30 p.m. yesterday, Mr. and Mrs. W. Cash Smith, of Woodsboro, didn't know whether their son, 1st Lt. Richard Ward Meehan, was dead or missing in action in South Viet Nam.
Now they know he is dead.
The Smiths were unknowing victims of an unusual mixup in U.S. Army worldwide communications-a mixup which resulted in their receiving notice yesterday morning that Lt. Meehan was killed in action and later, at 2:30 p.m., a telegram saying he was only "missing" in Viet Nam.
The confusion wasn't cleared up until last night after Col. Oliver J. Cejka, Fort Detrick information officer, entered the picture and finally told the Smiths as 8:30 that Lt. Meehan was indeed dead.
But for six hours, from 2:30 until 8:30, the Smiths held to a thread of hope.
A chaplain from nearby Fort Ritchie had visited them personally in the morning to tell them their son was dead.
Then at 2:30 at telegram from the Army's adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Kenneth G. Wicklow, arrived informing them Lt. Meehan was "missing" and that the message confirmed the earlier visit of "the Army's Representative." (the chaplain)
Cejka acted after he had heard of the confusion. He and Fort Detrick officials, including the base commander, Col. Vincent L. Ruwet, backtracked through Army communications until they reached the source at Fort Meade, Md., First Army Headquarters.
"This is serious. There is a difference between missing and dead." Cejka had said when informed of the uncertainty.
"I'm just grasping at straws," said Smith's stepfather earlier yesterday afternoon.
Detrick staffers finally contacted an officer at Fort Meade who advised them the chaplain's original message was true.
This is what happened, Cejka explained. The Defense Department relays killed in action reports to next of kin on a higher priority that the missing reports.
"Apparently," said Cejka, "the Army first declared Lt. Meehan missing-and so notified the Smiths. Then, they declared him dead-and this top priority message reached the parents just hours before the lower priority missing in action report."
A shaken Col. Cejka greived with the parents. "The reason, he knew the boy well. He used to go with my daughter. He came to the house all the time. He was a heck of a good kid."
Lt. Meehan, 23, is the fifth Frederick County serviceman to die in Viet Nam.
A helicopter pilot with the First Cavalary Airmobile Division, he was a graduate of Frederick High School, later Lafayette College in Pennsylvania and had been stationed in Viet Nam since January.
He had logged more that 700 hours flying time in the whirley-birds.
Cejka recalls talking to the young man in his preservice days and possibly influencing his short-lived military career.
"He wanted to fly, He was interested in learning something in the military he could use latter on," he said.
Prior to entering active duty with the Army, Meehan worked as an engineer on a dam project north of Sacramento, Calif.
Meehan was active in sports in both college and high school and was a member of the Frederick High School football and track teams and the Lafayette College Track Team. He was a member of the National Honor Society in high school abd president of the Student Council.
Surviving in addition to his mother and step-father are one brother, Capt. Franklin Meehan, US Army stationed in Texas; one sister, Mrs. Richard Arnold, of Connecticut, one half brother, Webster Smith, an aunt, Mrs. Charles Sanner, and several nieces and nephews.
Meehan's death brings the number to die in Viet Nam to five. Others who dave died there include Lt. Daniel S. Brittain, son of Mr. and Mrs. Warner Brittain, of Frederick; Ronald M. Kenny, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Kenny and James Moore Jr, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Moore both of Mt. Airy; Robert E. Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Smith.
FREDERICK NEWS-POST August 17, 1966
SERVICES SET FOR LT. RICHARD MEEHAN
Funeral services for 1st Lt Richard W. Meehan, who died in action Aug. 8, in Viet Nam, will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at the Woodsboro Lutheran Church.
The Rev. Raymond C. Myers, former pastor of the church, will officiate. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Woodsboro. The Powell and Hartzler Funeral Home is in charge of funeral arrangements.
Friends may call at the home of Lt. Meehan's parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. Cash Smith, Woodsboro, on Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. There will be no public viewing.
Memorials may be made to the Viet Nam Orphange Fund, in care of the funeral home.
FREDERICK NEWS-POST August 20, 1966
LT. RICHARD W. MEEHAN
Funeral services for Lt. Richard W. Meehan, of Woodsboro, who was killed in action in Vietnam Aug. 8, were held Friday at the Woodsboro Lutheran Church. The Rev. Raymond C. Myers, pastor, officiated.
Bearers were Bryant Aylor, Michael Pue, William Poffenberger, Samuel Marrone, Richard Markey and Edward Higenbotham.
Military services were conducted by an Army detachment from Ft. Detrick. Burial was in Mt. Hope Cemetery. Powell and Hartzler, funeral directors of Woodsboro, were in charge of the rites.
FREDERICK NEWS-POST May 13, 1967
BRONZE STAR IS AWARDED AREA GI POSTHUMOUSLY
First Lieutenant Richard W. Meehan, U.S. Army, who lost his life in a helicopter crash in Vietnam on August 8, 1966, was presented the Bronze Star Medal and Air Medal with 19 Oak Leaf Clusters, posthumously, Saturday 6 May.
Major Amos Johnson Jr., Deputy Commander, Fort Detrick, presented the medals to Lt. Meehan's mother, Mrs. Frances M. Smith, at her home near Woodsboro.
The citation to the Bronze Star Medal reads in part "-for distinguishing himself by outstanding meritorious service in connection with ground operations against a hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam during the period 14 January to 8 August 1966.
"Through his untiring efforts and professional ability, he consistently obtained outstanding results. He was quick to grasp the implication of new problems with which he was faced as a result of the ever changing situations inherent in a couter-insurgency operation and to find ways and means to solve those problems."
"The energetic applications of his extensive knowledge has materially contributed to the efforts of the United States mission to the Republic of Vietnam to assist that country in ridding itself of the Communist threat to its freedom."
The citation to the Air Medal reads, "For distinguishing himself be meritorious acheivement while participating in sustained aerial flight in support of combat ground forces of the Republic of Vietnam during the period 22 May to 15 July 1966.
"During this time Lt. Meehan actively participated in more than 25 aerial missions over hostile territory in support of counter-insurgency operations. During all these missions he displayed the highest order of air discipline and acted in accordance with the best traditions of the service. By his determination to accomplish his mission in spite of the hazards inherent in repeated aerial flights over hostile territory and by his outstanding degree of professionalism and devotion to duty, he has brought credit upon himself, his organization, and the military service."
Lt. Meehan was the son of the late Capt. John Franklin S. Meehan, who lost his life in a MATS crash in Danbury, Connecticut on Nov 29, 1942. His brother, Capt. J. Frank Meehan, now serving as advisor to the RVN Army in I Corp Tactical Zone of Operations, has been awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in hostile engagements.
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