WO Ralph Milton “R.M.H.” Havnaer
Birth: Jun. 15, 1944 Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC
Death: Jun. 25, 1968 Binh Hoa, Vietnam.
Warrant Officer Ralph Milton Havnaer native of Charlotte and a graduate of the 1966 Class at UNC was 24 years old and was not married. It was reported that Ralph died when his helicopter crashed. His body was recovered. He attended Primary Helicopter School at Ft. Walters, Texas and Advanced School at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Friends particularly remember Ralph’s Austin Healey, his family at Flight School Graduation and the best of all, Ralph’s insistence that his initials RMH stood for “Raise Much Hell.” A friend and flight school classmate wrote Ralph a letter while in Viet Nam and the letter he had written to Ralph was returned stamped with the message “confirmed deceased.”
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph D. Havnaer and Mae Havnaer of Charlotte. They are both deceased now and are interred alongside him at the Cemetery. He served with the 240th Assault Helicopter Company, “Mad Dogs”, 214th Aviation Battalion, 12th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade. He was awarded Aviator Wings, The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, the Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, The Bronze Star Medal and The Air Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters.
Burial: Sharon Memorial Park Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC Plot: Sect.11 C, Lot 107, #1.
(Source: Posted with permission of Tom & Jim Reece, #46857744; finding NC Vietnam KIA/MIA’s gravesites
; Reconfigured and submitted by: Ron Yates)
I still have that letter with those markings.