GENE EHRICHS
1934 - 1981

He enlisted in the Air Force March 20, 1953, and received his basic training in the southern states of Texas, Arizona, and Florida. He was a reconnaissance pilot, serving in the Korean and Viet Nam wars.

Gene was stationed in Germany and France for three years; returned to the states to Camp Adair near Corvallis, Oregon, where his brother and family lived; next to a base in Mountain Home, Idaho; then to Sumter, South Carolina; then to England.
He was in Korea for 14 months in 1965, and served two different times in Viet Nam.

Lieutenant Colonel Ehrichs was discharged in 1973 at Duluth, Minnesota. Among his awards are the Bronze Star and two Oak Leaf Clusters.

Note of interest: Alice (Dalgety) Savage handled the message through Red Cross to Gene Ehrichs who was serving in England when his father Louie Ehrichs of Aspinwall, Iowa, died in 1969. Years later, when Alice visited Katie (Dalgety) Petersen who resided in Elm Crest Apartments in Manning, she told Dorothy (Ehrichs) Kusel (Director of Elm Crest at that time) that she sent the message about Louie.

AT OREGON POST November 1959
Lieutenant Gene Ehrichs and family are now settled at their home in Corvallis, Oregon. The Lieutenant has completed his schooling at Panama City, Florida, and will now be stationed at Camp Adair Air Force Station at Corvallis.

Graduates from intercepter base
March 1960 KEESLER AFB, MISS — LT Gene J. Ehrichs son of Mr and Mrs. Louie Ehrichs, Aspinwall, Iowa, who is a member of the USAF Aerospace Force, grad­uated recently from the intercept direction (Sage) course at Keesler Air Force Base. Lieu­tenant Ehrichs has been assign­ed to Adair Air Force Station, Oregon, to take his place on the team of America's expanding aerospace force of manned air­craft and missiles.
At Keesler, one of 26 Air Training Command bases around our country, approxim­ately 25,000 airmen each year receive training in missile sys­tems, radio and radar operation, and other types of specialized electronics training.

Gene was married to Patricia Billing August 21, 1955, in Tucson, Arizona, and they had three sons: Mark is in the U.S. Navy; Brian, in the U.S. Navy; and Kevin lives in Tucson, Arizona.
Gene died November 13, 1981. His wife Pat lives in Tucson.

Gene Ehrichs flying a T6G.

The United States Air Force Pilot School
announces the Graduation of
Class Fifty-Five J
Tuesday morning, August sixteenth
Ninteen hundred fifty-five
at eight o'clock
Service club
Bryan Airforce Base
Bryan, Texas
Aerial Review and Wing Review at seven-thirty o'clock

Jet Fighter School Class 55-T
Gene Ehrichs third from left.

Update on Ehrichs children January 23, 2002 Mark Ehrichs in his uniform after he enlisted. Mark was a Machinist Mate / Engineering Laboratory Technician in the nuclear Navy. During the majority of his 8.5 years in the Navy, Mark was stationed on the U.S.S. Casimir Pulaski (SSBN 633). The sub carried 16 missiles (Poseidon missiles first; later upgraded to Trident I missiles) and has been decommissioned and probably scrapped by now. Mark made 4 patrols, then the boat underwent a 2.5 year overhaul during which time it was refueled. He then made three more patrols after that before his time was up and he elected to not re-enlist. Mark was honorably discharged and returned to Arizona where he was hired by Arizona Public Service Company. He currently works at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station as a Chemistry Technician / Radiological Monitoring Technician. Brian Ehrichs in his uniform after he enlisted. Brian in his green utility uniform 2003. HMCS (FMF/AW) Brian David Ehrichs (E-8) Active Duty Dates: September 4, 1980 to Present -- Serving in Iraqi Freedom in Kuwait/Iraq 2003 Military Awards/Decorations: Navy/Marine Corps Commendation (2 awards), Navy/Marine Corps Achievement, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Unit Commendation, Good Conduct (4 awards), Fleet Marine Force Ribbon, Navy Expeditionary Medal, Marine Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, South West Asia Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment (3 awards), Overseas Service Ribbon (3 Awards), Philippine President Unit Citation, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Navy Pistol Marksmanship. Military Education. Dates attended. School/ Name of Course: Operating Room Technician. Jun-Dec 82 Basic Biomedical Repair School, Jun-Nov 85 Advanced Biomedical Repair School, Nov 88-Jun 89 2002 information.