United States. Air Medal, to Vietnam War Veteran, Lieutenant Colonel Reily Eugene Urich, 4258th Strategic Wing, U-Tapao Field in Thailand

In bronze, engraved "REILEY E. URICH" on the reverse, the naming with an additional "E" added before the "Y" in his surname, measuring 42.2 mm (w) x 50 mm (h), contact marks on the reverse, original ribbon with brooch pinback, very fine. Accompanied by its 36 mm (w) x 10 mm ribbon bar, in its hardshelled case, marked "AIR MEDAL" on the lid, light wear on the exterior, covering over the hinged area peeling away from the body, case also very fine. Also included is his Air Medal Award Certificate (inscribed "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / TO ALL WHO SHALL SEE THESE PRESENTS, GREETING: / THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AUTHORIZED BY EXECUTIVE ORDER, MAY 11, 1942 HAS AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL REILY E. URICH FOR MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT WHILE PARTICIPATING IN AERIAL FLIGHT 14 February 1970 to 2 February 1971 GIVEN UNDER MY HAND IN THE CITY OF WASHINGTON THIS 27th DAY OF February 1971", signed by the Commander of the Seventh Air Force, General Lucius D. Clay Jr. and by Secretary of the Air Force, Robert C. Seamans, Jr., with the embossed Department of the Air Force Seal, printer marked "BUREAU OF ENGRAVING AND PRINTING, LITHO.", printed in black, red, blue, yellow and gold inks, on a thick off-white paper stock, measuring 267 mm (w) x 203 mm (h)), along with an Aircraft Carrier Photograph (four-color, gloss finish, measuring 248 mm (w) x 202 mm (h)) and three copies of a List of Recipients of the Air Medal (dated February 27, 1971), the Certificate, Photo and List housed within a Department of the Air Force Folder (the folder measuring 280 mm (w) x 210 mm (h)); along with a Duotang Binder containing copies of his Service Records. Footnote: Reily Eugene Urich was born in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Mechanicsburg High School, then graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1951. Urich was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant (168262927) with the United States Air Force on July 29, 1951. He was posted to Japan from March 21, 1952 to April 4, 1953. Urich was commissioned as a Temporary First Lieutenant on November 26, 1953, as a First Lieutenant on October 15, 1954, and as a First Lieutenant (Integrated) on May 6, 1955. He attended Squadron Officer School for fourteen weeks in 1956. He is acknowledged as having served 140 days Temporary Duty as of September 30, 1957 and was named Temporary Captain on May 12, 1958. Urich returned to Japan, where he was posted to Tachikawa Air Base on October 13, 1958, as part of the Military Air Transport Service, until May 26, 1961. It was while he was stationed here that he was promoted to Captain on May 6, 1959. In July 1961, he assumed the role of Missile Officer with the 551st Strategic Missile Squadron at Lincoln Air Force Base in Nebraska, as part of the the Strategic Air Command, and later, Missile Combat Crew Command in April 1962. He was named Temporary Major on December 2, 1964. Urich attended the Air Command and Staff College for thirty-nine weeks, as well as United States Air Force Counterinsurgency Indoctrination training for three weeks in 1965. In July 1965, he assumed the role of Navigator with the 99th Air Resupply Squadron at Westover Air Force Base in Massachusetts, later becoming Operations Manager there in March 1967. It was during his time at Westover that he was promoted to Major on May 6, 1966 and named Temporary Lieutenant Colonel on May 1, 1968. Urich then went overseas to serve in the Southeast Asia theater, becoming Operations Staff Officer with the Tanker Ops Branch, 4258th Strategic Wing at U-Tapao Field in Thailand, as of February 8, 1970. It was during the period between February 14, 1970 and February 2, 1971 that he would be extremely active, flying 32 combat missions. A list was issued by the Department of the Air Force, Headquarters Seventh Air Force PACAF, APO San Francisco 96307, by Special Order of February 27, 1971, G-0572, for the award of the Air Medal to twenty airmen, one of which was Lieutenant Colonel Urich, his citation stating: "By direction of the President, each of the following (twenty airmen) is awarded the Air Medal for Meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. During the period indicated (February 14, 1970 to February 2, 1971), outstanding airmanship and courage were exhibited in the successful accomplishment of important missions under extremely hazardous conditions. The highly professional efforts of each individual cited contributed materially to the mission of the United States Air Force in Southeast Asia." Urich returned to the United States in April 1970 and assumed the role as Squadron Navigator with the 71st Refueling Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. He became a Instructor Navigator in February 1972 and assumed the role of Wing Chief, Tanker Mission Development Branch, Headquarters 2nd Bomb Wing in April 1973. He is acknowledged as having served 180 days Temporary Duty as of May 4, 1972, shuttling back and forth to Southeast Asia. Urich was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on May 6, 1973 and retired in that rank on January 31, 1974 at Barksdale Air Force Base. He is credited with having flown 39 combat missions in Southeast Asia (SEA) (32 combat missions for a total of 131.5 combat hours between February 14, 1970 and January 3, 1971; 1 combat mission for a total of 6 combat hours on May 8, 1972; 3 combat missions for a total of 16.5 combat hours between June 7 and July 28, 1972; 1 combat mission for a total of 6.9 hours in October 1972; and 2 combat missions for a total of 4 combat hours in August and September 1972).