RICHARD J. EISLOEFFEL, MAJ, USMC
Richard Eisloeffel '76
Lucky Bag
From the 1976 Lucky Bag:
Loss
From The Deseret News on November 1, 1988:
U.S. Marine Corps officials on Tuesday identified the four Marines killed in a helicopter crash Monday in a training area on Okinawa island.
Killed were Maj. Richard J. Eisloeffel, 34, of El Cajon, Calif.; Capt. Michael F. King, 31, of Bend, Ore.; Cpl. Sean M. Timmons, 20, Isle of Palms, S.C.; and Cpl. Charles F. Dehn II, 20, of Glendale, Ore. The accident occurred when two CH-46 helicopters apparently collided while conducting routine training operations, a United States Forces official said Tuesday.
One of the helicopters crashed in mountainous terrain near the Marine Corps base camp in Futenma, Okinawa, about 970 miles south of Tokyo. The other returned to the air station with a missing nose strut.
There were no casualties in the second helicopter. Both helicopters were assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron-262 based at Marine Corps Air Station, Futenma.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Known as “Rich” he graduated from El Cajon Valley High School in 1972. "Rich, considered to be one of our school's outstanding seniors, spent an active four years in Football 1, 2; Baseball 1, 2; Soccer 4; Frosh V. P.; ASB Asst. 2; Sr. Pres; Key Club 2; Pres. 3; CSF 1, 2, 3, 4; nom. Conv. 1, 2, 3; and Campus Life. Out of many favorites, he most liked taxidermy, the sea, the Moody Blues, Biology class, and the quote, 'Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for a friend.' After continuing his education, Rich plans 'to travel around the world in 80 days on a raft.' Bank of America Plaque winner. Society of Outstanding American High School Students. Harvard Prize Book Program, Outstanding Teenager of America. Voted 'Most All Around.'"
Richard is buried at the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery.
Photographs
All photographs from his high school yearbook.
Related Articles
Michael King '79 was also lost in this accident.
Class of 1976
Richard is one of 11 members of the Class of 1976 on Virtual Memorial Hall.