In Memory

Ric Canning

 

Birth:  Apr. 3, 1945, USA
Death:  Oct. 4, 1969
Quang Ngai, Vietnam

Survived by his mother, Ernestine and a brother, Franklin "Frank" M. of Summit, NJ and his father, Paul M. Canning of Memphis, TN.

From the Vietnam Veterans Memorial:

SSGT - E5 - Army - Regular
173rd Airborne Brigade

Length of service 6 years
His tour began on June 3, 1967
Casualty was on Oct. 4, 1969
In QUANG NGAI, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, HELICOPTER - CREW
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was recovered

Panel 17W - Line 35
-------------------------------------------
Rick was a member of the Casper Aviation Platoon (1965-1971). He designed the Inferno Aero Scout patch worn by LOH (light observation helicopters) crew members on their survival vest between 1968 and 1971. He was on his third tour when he lost his life. He was awarded two Purple Hearts, 3 Bronze Stars, 30 Air Medals and 2 Army Commendation Medals.

Ricky grew up in Summit, NJ. 
 
Burial:
Calvary Cemetery
Memphis
Shelby County
Tennessee, USA
 
Created by: Wendy Albright
Record added: Feb 04, 2012
Find A Grave Memorial# 84488387

 

 

 



 
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11/09/13 09:01 PM #1    

Susan R. Feather-Gannon

He always spelled his name "Ric." I still have his letters sent to me from Viet Nam. He also called me from there when I was at a small junior college in Massachusetts. I loved him dearly.

Susan Feather-Gannon


09/17/14 04:39 PM #2    

Joseph M. Ahearn

Grew up with Ric and unfortunately grew apart.  I remember the time we were playing catch in my yard and he threw a hard/high fastball that I couldn’t catch but the garage window caught instead.  Tried to hook up with him in Viet Nam but his unit got redeployed before I got back to base camp.  I visit “The Wall” and pay my respects to him and Jimmy Scuitier often.  RIP both of you guys and all the names on the wall !


09/17/14 05:26 PM #3    

Terrence J. Fearon, III

Ric was bit older than me, didnt know him that well , I do remember his car that he cut the top off

removed the engine hood , and had a rope hooked to the carburater to run it.....Wild...

cruising Summit, Bonds , hanging at Summit Citgo..  etc.  Didnt see him after we went into Service

Quan Ngai Vietnam was a second base of Ops for me 67-68.

Rest in peace Rick,

 

Jimmy Scuiter , for thoses that knew him.,   and I were born the same day at Overlook Hospital. We were friends truout   young life.  Went to get our Driveing Test together etc. Hung out at Summit Citgo gas station, Bonds, etc  as did Ric. He transferred to Oratory Prep in Summit or he would have been a classmate.

 He had a 63 or 64 Corvette convertable which he flipped over   racing on JFK parkway. our classmate Rich Dietrich's older brother Charlie  was  with him,   few bumps , bruises but  survived.  

Jimmy was KIA  February 28, 1968, in Nam  we turned 21 there .  He is buried close to my Family's 

grave site in St Teresa's Cementary.  Whenever I am in town I always stop by to visit.  

See you again one day Friend.

Terry Fearon


09/18/14 09:04 AM #4    

Geoffrey Plain

Ric Canning was one of a kind.  A special person that I shared many good times with.

I think of him often. 

 


09/18/14 11:34 PM #5    

Brian Kiernan

What i most remember about Ric was the old '51 Ford that he had chopped up till it should not have even run, let alone be on the road.  Another aspect of him was his avocation towards skydiving.  He was one of the earliest jumpers I knew. Several of us went with him during one of his first jumps and his main chute didn't open.  He pulled the reserve, but then the main also opened.  That meant he had no effective control.  He ended up landing in a lake about 3 miles from the target.  He had to walk back to the jump site.  We didn't see him for hours.  When he showed up he had a big smaile on his face.

 

Terri,

I also remember Jimmy Scuiter, primarily from St. Teresa.  I'm pretty sure he was the first person from Summit to die in Vietnam.  I remember his funeral at St Teresa's Church.  It was huge.  Virtually everyone in Summit turned out.


09/21/14 03:56 PM #6    

Terrence J. Fearon, III

Ricks car was one of a kind.....got me into cars...still have 3 oldies.

I was still in Nam when Jimmy Scuitier  died,  didnt know it til my dad sent me the Summit Herald

in March 68  in Nam.  I anyone visits the old Summit Citgo gas station ,  Now S+D  auto,

ask Bill Schmidt and Fred Detjen to see his purple heart memoral plaque on the wall in the office

Havent heard from his sister since Vietnam....

 When I visit his grave I bring my 64 Vette and let is idle as i visit

Hope he hears it  somewhere. thanks for the good words.


08/08/15 11:18 AM #7    

Sandra Moll (Keith)


08/08/15 11:19 AM #8    

Sandra Moll (Keith)


08/09/15 03:08 PM #9    

Terrence J. Fearon, III

Very nice Sandra,   haven't been able to bring myself there..  after all these years..

I just was able  to have the State of NJ name the Big Rt 35 drawbridge from Brielle to Pt Pleasant

 

as; VETERANS OF ALL WARS MEMORIAL BRIDGE.  if any of SHS Grads cross the bridge

look for the 4'  X  6'  signs on each end .    Everyone crossing it now knows  War Veterans

spirits dwell there..

Sadly  S + D auto, the old Citgo station sold after 50 years.  Jim Scuiter's Memoral plaque

now resides in my Home in Chatham Twp.

RIP Ric, Jim  , and all my fellow War Vets....   All  Gave Some,,    Some Gave All

tjf


08/09/15 03:10 PM #10    

Terrence J. Fearon, III

P.S.   Quang Ngai  was one of my Operations area. I left Nam is 68.  

 


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