Butch Verich


Demetrio "Butch" Verich was an American naval aviator who served as the maintenance officer in 1966 and operations officer in 1967 of the Hunters of VF-162 aboard the USS Oriskany in the Vietnam War. He had the misfortune to be shot down over North Vietnam on both cruises, but survived to return to the Oriskany both times.

Personal life

Verich was born in Laona, Wisconsin in 1932, of ethnic Serb ancestry. His parents Peter and Annette had six children, of which Demetrio was the youngest. He graduated from the Laona High School in 1950. He was married to Mary with whom he had six children.

Military service

In 1967, Lieutenant Commander Butch Verich, along with two other VF-162 F-8s attacked enemy flak sites ahead of an A-4 strike.
Verich's F-8 was hit by a surface-to-air missile, and he ejected over hostile North Vietnamese territory. He landed near the wreck of his burning fighter and evading enemy troops for 15 hours, waiting for rescue and avoiding capture.
The SAR effort had been suspended as night came, but soon after dawn F-8s, A-1s, and A-4s arrived as the largest ever naval rescue operation of the Vietnam War. During this time, Verich fired a flare that directed the HS-2 rescue helicopter from the carrier to his position. The helicopter pilot and his crew braved intense enemy fire to finally drag Verich up into the aircraft.
It took 20 minutes and three tries to grab the helicopter's rescue sling, but Verich finally grabbed hold. The helicopter pilot, Lieutenant Neil Sparks, received the Navy Cross for his exploit.

Later life

Butch retired from the US Navy as a commander and worked as an attorney and district attorney in his hometown. He died on 15 April 2017, aged 84.