More detail on this person: Randy was born in
Vermillion, South Dakota on August 24, 1946, the
second of eleven children of William Joseph and
Susie Albers Radigan. lie was a 1964 graduate of
Vermilion High School; he attended the University
of South Dakota and several colleges In 1966, he
enlisted in the U. S. Army, completed helicopter
flight school, and began his first tour of duty as
a medevac helicopter pilot in Vietnam. He
volunteered for further tours of medevac duty in
Vietnam, served 39 months there and was
decorated extensively for valor in combat. He was
awarded twice the Distinguished Flying Cross,
twice the Silver Star, five times the Bronze Star,
54 Air Medals, the Air Commendation Medal, and
the Purple Heart. He flew 1,597 air-rescue
missions in Vietnam and carried 4,191 wounded
soldiers. This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site:
10/23/2024
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From 1974 to 1983 Randy was employed by
Alyeska Pipeline as a security helicopter pilot.
He was an entrepreneur with many local interests.
He loved Alaska. He was an avid big game hunter
and enjoyed spending his time at their cabin "in
the woods." He served on the Copper River School
District School Board since 1993 and was also a
member of the Copper Basin Lions Club for many
years. Randy and Lorraine were married on
December 31, 1983.
Among those that survive him and gratefully shared
his life are his wife; Lorraine, sons; Rocky and
Colt, daughters; Tammy Custis, husband Jim,
Brandie Bancroft, husband Blake, Alison Jaidinger,
his four grandchildren; his father; William J.
Radigan, his seven brothers; William, Jeffrey,
Steven, Gregory, Daniel, Kelly, and James, his
sisters; Suzanne, Laurie, Carol, his many nieces
and nephews; and by his longtime friends Don,
Joyce, Jim and Scott Horrell. He was preceded in
death by his mother, Susie, and two infant
daughters.
From: DUSTOFF web site.
He also received a direct commission and attended
the Infantry Officer Basic Course in the summer of
1969 before going back to RSVN.
From: Rich Kvies
Randall Gordon Radigan is listed as WO1. I know
he was promoted and at some point his rank was
listed as CWO. I believe the Army uses that term
for WO3/WO4 ? You also note that he received "a
direct commission". Actually he received "a
direct commission in the field" - what we use to
call "a combat commission". The last time I saw
him in his Army uniform he was a Captain. That
was at Hunter Leggitt Army installation in
California. He had received notice that he was to
be RIF'ed out of the Army. He was discharged
around Dec 72. Also, I don't know if your article
noted that he had been awarded the Purple Heart.
I think it was 1969 when they flew him out of
Vietnam back to Tripler Army Medical Center in
Hawaii where they "put him back together". I was
on a special assignment to Pearl at the time and
visited him.
From: Lt Col William J Radigan Jr
Cause of death was an ulcer penetrating his aorta
which led to him drowning in his own blood.