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:
01/11/2025
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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.