BOMBER MEMORIAL

TONY RAY RHEINSCHMIDT ~ Classes of 1965 and 1966
January 22, 1946 - February 11, 2021



Written by his brother, Rob ('71):

"Tony Ray Rheinschmidt was born to Howard James and Elvira Josephine "Vera" Mostek Rheinschmidt in Newport, WA on January 22, 1946. He passed away in Richland on February 11, 2021.

I remember his stubborn attitude about U. S. State History and how he had refused to take it. Once he realized it was a graduation requirement, he took it in summer school. Funny that the high school didn't grandfather his graduation date to 1965.

On September 26, 1963, as a high school sophomore, his scout troop greeted President John F. Kennedy at the Washington Public Power Supply System (WPPSS) power generator groundbreaking. This was at the 100N nuclear plant where he and the troop ushered front row dignitaries. As a high school junior and senior he joined the Explorer Scouts where he learned and executed outdoor survival skills.

In 1966 he enlisted in the Army Chief Warrant Officer Program, and in 1967 graduated as a Chief Warrant Officer (CW2) helicopter pilot.

In 1968 he served one year in Vietnam under intense battle. Tony flew Bell UH-1H helicopters for the 170th Assault Helicopter Company: "The Bikini's". During that year of war Tony and the 170th received many individual awards, such as:
Two Unit Citations
The Valorous Unit Award
The Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm
Civic Action Honor Medal, First Class
Promoted to highest Chief Warrant Officer position CW5

In 1969 Tony trained helicopter pilots at Fort Rucker, Alabama until he was discharged from the Army in 1970.

In 1971 he lived in Isfahan, Iran where he trained Iranian helicopter pilots.

Once he finished his year in Iran he toured the world telling me there's only a few countries he didn't visit.

From 1977 to 1989 Tony, flying many models of Bell Jet Ranger helicopters, flew firefighters for the U. S. Forest Service to end up flying for Alaska Helicopter in Anchorage.

During Tony's 10 years of being employed by Alaska Helicopter he flew geologists, Forest Service Veterinarians and surveying crews. He flew these crews all over the Alaskan continent from Anchorage to the North Slope, to Little Diomede Island to the Beaufort Sea. Tagging polar bears to teetering the skids of a helicopter on a sharp ridge of a shale mountain.

Tony flew a Fish/Game veterinary crew along the far north Alaskan boarder of the Beaufort Sea to dart Polar Bears -- to perform health checks. The weather was sub-zero, and Tony was freezing. When tests to one of the Polar Bears were completed, Tony laid next to it and curled up against its belly for warmth. Some of the crewman grabbed the bear's arm and laid it across Tony, then took a snapshot. Tony mentioned the dart-chemical used caused temporary paralysis which allowed the bear to be totally conscious. He said how weird it was to lay against a Polar Bear while it was staring and growling at you. When all the tests were completed, the crew proceeded to the helicopter when one of the bears regained muscle control and started running at them. Tony had the helicopter lifted off the ground with one of the remaining crewmen still crawling in. The bear swats his paw and ripped up the guy's calf as Tony raised high enough to be safe. So, a trip to the hospital they went.

Tony's stories are so interesting and vast, he should have published a book.

Tony moved from Bremerton to Kennewick in 2012 where he was enjoyed by all his friends and relatives.

He is preceded in death by his parents and two brothers:
His father, Howard James Rheinschmidt, passed away at the age of 54 on April 8, 1969.
His mother, Elvera Josephine "Vera" Mostek Rheinschmidt, passed away at the age of 82 on May 29, 2004.
His brother, Dave Rheinschmidt ('74 honorary at Col High and at HHS), passed away on April 10,1990.
His brother, Jack Francis Rheinschmidt, was born February 1, 1944 and passed away on November 13, 2020.

Thanks to the trauma of Vietnam, Tony's life was one of solitude. He had some best friends with two living outside of the state of Washington. Tony never married.

He is survived by: his brother, Rob Rheinschmidt ('71); sister-in-law, Karen; their four children: Matthew ('92) (Julie '93), Joanna ('93), Daniel (Mary) and Jared; and eight grandchildren. These grandchildren calling him "Uncle Tony" were his most precious gift. His last nine years in the Tri-Cities were dedicated to making sure these "grandchildren" would want of nothing. In other words, he spoiled them.

He lays to rest at the Richland Sunset Gardens Veterans Plaza."

Bomber Memorial put together by Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66).