Richard Mark Welch (1944-1968)

WELCH, SCHUSTER, FREDERICKS, YOUNG, CHRISTIANSEN

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 7/16/2025 at 17:04:10

From The Nevada Evening Journal, Nevada, Story County, Iowa, October 5, 1968.

Museum plaque will hone Richard Welch.

Maxwell citizens have begun a collection for funds with which to provide a memorial plaque honoring Richard Welch, who was killed Oct. 1 in a Thaieland plane crash.

Death of the Maxwell flier, a Maxwell High graduate, was recorded as a Viet Nam war casualty.

Collection center for the fund will be at Norman's Conoco station in Maxwell.

Plans call for placing the plaque in Maxwell's museum, along with plaques honoring Dick Cuff and David Pearson, Maxwell's other Viet Nam war victims.

From The Nevada Evening Journal, Nevada, Story County, Iowa, October 7, 1968.

From article "10 Story Co. youths dead in Viet Nam":

The ninth loss was that of Lt. Richard Welch of Maxwell, whose K-135 tanker plane crashed on takeoff from a field in Thailand on October 1.

The Maxwell community has borne a disproportionate share of the loss with three young men who have died.

From The Nevada Evening Journal, Nevada, Story County, Iowa, October 8, 1968.

Body to arrive in Maxwell for burial Thurs.

The body of Richard Welch, 24, a Maxwell serviceman who was killed Oct. 1 in a K-135 as it took off from an airport 100 miles south of Bangkok, will arrive in Maxwell Tuesday afternoon.

Funeral arrangements are tentatively set for Thursday at 10 a.m. from the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Elkhart. The rosary will be recited at the Cooper Funeral Home Wednesday evening at 8:30 p.m.

Besides his wife, Janice, and one year old son, Bryan, he is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Welch, Maxwell, four sisters and three brothers.

From Ames Daily Tribune, Ames, Story County, Iowa, October 4, 1968.

Maxwell airman killed

A Maxwell airman was one of three crewmen killed Tuesday when Air Force KC-135 jet tanker crashed and burned on takeoff at Utapao Air Force Base 85 miles south of Bangkok, Thailand.

First Lt Richard M Welch was co-pilot of the tanker which was on temporary duty in Southeast Asia. Four crewmen were aboard.

Welch's widow, Janice, and son Brian, live at Mather Air Force Base in Sacramento, Calif., where the tanker was normally based.

A Marine security guard was slightly injured by flying debris in the accident. A U S official said it was the first crash of a KC-135 jet at Utapao AFB where both tankers and B-52 strategic bombers are based.

Welch received his commission in 1966 upon completion of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Iowa State University, the same year her received his bachelor's degree.

From Ames Daily Tribune, Ames, Story County, Iowa, October 8, 1968.

Maxwell Airman's services set

Funeral services for 1st Lt Richard M. Welch, Maxwell, are tentatively set for Thursday at 10 a.m. from St. Mary's Catholic Church, Elkhart, with the Rev. Fr. Paul Albers and the Rev. Fr. Richard Bergman officiating. Burial is to be in Graceland Cemetery, Knoxville.

Lt. Welch was one of three crewmen killed Oct. 1 when Air Force KC-135 Jet tanker crashed and burned on takeoff at Utapao Air Force Base, 85 miles south of Bangkok, Thailand.

Survivors include his wife Janice and a son, Brian, who live at Mather Air Force Base, Sacramento, Calif.; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Welch, Maxwell; four sisters, Mrs. Kathy Schuster and Mrs. Jean Fredericks, Des Moines, Mrs. Pat Young, Waukee, and Mrs. Linda Christiansen, Afton; three brothers, Bob, Iowa Falls, Larry, Des Moines and Jim of Ottumwa.

The Rosary will be read Wednesday evening at 8:30 p.m. at the Cooper Funeral Home.

Full military honors at the graveside will be performed by an honor guard from Offutt Air Force Base, Omaha, Neb.

Poster note: Middle name and birth year taken from war records.