Special Ceremony Honors Vietnam Vet Killed 50 Years Ago

The life of Rick Sanders was recently honored at River View Cemetery in Aurora.

Rick Sanders family honoring his life on the 50th anniversary of his death in Vietnam. (Left to right): Mike Barry, Sandy Barry, Dawn Birkenheuer and Derek Birkenheuer. Photo provided. 

(Aurora, Ind.) - Richard Wayne Sanders was born on August 26, 1944 and was killed in action in Vietnam on October 1, 1968. 

He was a bright young man with a bright future until the Vietnam War came along and cut his life short. Rick grew up in Goshen, OH, entered the U.S. Army and was stationed at the Nike Missle Base in Dillsboro, IN. While there, he met his future wife, Sandy Cayton, and they got married. She was pregnant with their first child when he received his orders to go to Vietnam and he deployed two months before the baby was born. He never got the chance to see his daughter, Dawn, who was seven months old when Rick died in Vietnam. Sandy would send her husband Polaroid pictures of Dawn daily so Rick could see his baby girl. Rick was a wonderful man and one of the nicest people you could ever meet according to Sandy. 

Sandy and Rick lived with her mother in Aurora when Rick went to Vietnam. Rick Sanders served as a paratrooper as a combat medic and eventually it led to his heroic actions that earned him the Silver Star, Bronze Star, several Air Medals and the Purple Heart.  He was involved in many rescue missions to extricate his fellow soldiers who were badly wounded during battle. On that fateful day of October 1, 1968, he was aboard a medical evacuation helicopter on a combat rescue mission near Tam Ky in North Vietnam when the chopper was shot down. An earlier chopper had been shot down but Sanders and his crew went into the hot LZ to rescue 14 severely wounded soldiers. He knew it was his job to do the best he could to help his comrades. Rick was always there to volunteer for these dangerous missions because that was how he was trained and believed it was his duty.  He saved a lot of lives and today there are many men able to be a husband, dad and grandpa thanks to his heroism. 

Rick never got to go home and “Live the American Dream” but he made it possible for those he rescued to do so. Sandy had just returned from the Aurora Farmers Fair when two Army Officers approached her with the terrible news. She was just 20 years old and now had the weight of the world on her shoulders as a single mom and mother of an infant.

Rick's tombstone at River View Cemetery in Aurora with a wreath from Wreaths Across America. Photo provided. 

Life goes on and Sandy eventually met and married a U.S. Air Force Vietnam Veteran, Mike Barry. Mike raised Dawn as his daughter and has been very respectful when it comes to remembering Rick. Dawn Birkenheuer has a son, Derek, who was recently discharged from the Navy after six years. Dawn has her dad’s medals and other memorabilia to display so others can see how brave her dad was.

Sandy contacted the Vietnam Veterans of America Lary D Fogle Chapter 71 in Aurora, IN to see about having a ceremony at Aurora’s River View Cemetery to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Rick’s death. She called Marty Sizemore and he in turn called PG Gentrup to get the event planned. Gentrup called Sandy and reminded her that he had met her years ago while working on the stories for the Moving Wall when it came to Lawrenceburg. The Vietnam Veterans came together to pay tribute to one of their own and a True American Hero. 

On Saturday, October 20, 2018 the family members met with the Color Guard at Rick’s burial site in the Soldiers’ Circle at River View Cemetery. There were several American Flags on 8’ poles staked at the circle, a POW-MIA flag, State of Indiana flag and the U.S. Army flag there to pay honors to Rick. PG Gentrup read a prepared statement from the family and talked about what brave young men, like Rick, mean to our nation and the freedoms we enjoy, thanks to men like him. He also read Rick’s citations for his Bronze Star, Silver Star and Purple Heart. Rick’s photo was on display as well as his medals. The Color Guard was proud to be there and conducted full military rites. Sandy still had the 5’ X 9.5’ burial flag that was on her husband’s casket and it was also on display. PG Gentrup and Jerry Bondurant, assisted by Rick’s grandson, Derek, folded a burial flag and presented it to Dawn in honor of her father. As a Gold Star Daughter, she deserved to also have a flag in memory of her dad. Her Gold Star Mother, Sandy, along with Dawn and her son, Derek, were presented with Purple Heart Challenge Coins, 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War Challenge Coins and 50th Anniversary lapel pins for the Vietnam War. Sgt. of Arms, Marty Sizemore, then called the rifle squad to attention and they fired the Three Volleys with the rifles and then Taps was played. Love for someone doesn’t die with them and Rick’s family proved that with this ceremony. He may be gone but he won’t be forgotten.

We all have the opportunity to pay tribute to these brave souls who made sacrifices for our freedoms. It’s our duty as Veterans, to make sure their stories are told.  Please take the time to teach the younger generations about these Heroes and take them to Memorial Day, 4th of July, Veterans Day and other events paying tribute to our nation.  Several area schools have programs coming up for Veterans Day so try to attend one of them or several and make sure the students have an opportunity to shake the hand of a Veteran and say Thank You for your service.  Be sure to look for a World War II Veteran too because there aren’t too many of them left and able to attend these events. May God continue to bless the USA.