My father is the doctor who took care of Capt. Chirichigno when he was released as a POW.  Dad had me do candy striper work at BAMC, I had a huge crush on Capt. Chirichigo He gave us the wall  hanging you see in the back of a shepard playing a flute  - it was made from llama wool  from Peru.  My little brother is stanidng just in front of it. i still have this.

My brother got me a POW/MIA  bracelet  back in 1969. I never knew he was a prisoner of war. I always thought he was MIA. 
Today my husband found it in my jewelry box. I always kept it and thought that one day I would get it to his family. Well, today I found his obituary. 
If anyone from his family would want it , please let me know. Claudineph@comcast.net.
My father was in the foreign service for 35 years as well. We lived in 11 countries.

Cuanto me hubiese gustado conocerte para que me cuentes de mi papá, tu hermano.
Dios te tiene en su presencia tio. 

I was shocked and deeply saddened when reading the last copy of the Aviation Digest and saw Captain "C" had passed away.  I first met him at Fort Wolters, TX in June 1968 when he was the Yellow Hat Class Leader of our flight class and as my stickmate flying the OH-23 helicopter.  He was a stitch as our leader, my stickmate, and my friend during our time at Wolters.  On one of our cross country flights, "C" was piloting the chopper and I was navigating.  After studying our route and pulling my eyes off the map to look outside the aircraft I was surprised to see nothing but clouds surrounding us.  When I queried "C" as to what he was doing.    For those who do not know, the OH-23 was not an instrument rated aircraft and not supposed to fly into the clouds, I quickly chopped the throttle, dumped the collective and we dropped back out of the clouds where he regained control of the aircraft and we continued our flight.  We got a charge out of this  later and it served as a real bond between.  We did not serve in Nam together and the day I was going on R & R to Hawaii, he was shot down in his cobra and became a POW.  CPT "C" was one of a kind, an outstanding officer, pilot, and friend.  My thoughts and prayers are with his family.  mike fitzgerald, 1805 dunraven road, bloomington, il, 61704

I just found this on the internet, I am so sorry for the loss of this great man.  I had his name on my POW bracelet and listened for his name as the men came off the plane.  I took the bracelet off when they announced his name.     I wished I had looked him up sooner.  May he Rest in Peach.

 this Vietnam Veteran salutes this American hero, https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/5372

I first met The Captain when he was released and was in San Antonio, Tx. In 1074.  I helped do errands for him and took him to his dr appointments when I could.
Oh what a FANTASTIC man! Sometimes he told me stories and it was something I will cherish.
This wonderful man has most certainly deserve a special place in Heaven!! 
My condolences to his family!
Jerry, you have made such a impact on my life and I was blessed to have been able to meet you and help you out..

RIP Jerry. Jerry was a great guy. he was a friend of my mothers when he served in the state department (as my mother had) in India around 1976-78. If my memory serves me correctly he owned a silver porsche when there were none in india at the time. My mother always remarked how cheerful especially since he had been treated terribly as a POW in Vietnam.thats my small memory of Jerry. Condolences to his family. 

      In July 1969 Sgt. Lonnie Johnson, 5th Special Forces Group (Viet Nam) described a young Lieutenant who early summer 1967, after being wounded and medically evacuated, self-checked out from hospital trying to make his way back to Quang Ngai Province for rejoining his unit. At Cam Ranh airfield he met a couple of Special Forces who steered him toward their own headquarters. Jerry was soon in a remote camp for a few months, and later off to stateside army aviation training.
      On return a couple of years later, he was based in Ban Me That and flying Cobra gunship special missions. In late 1969 he was shot down, wounded, captured, and marched northward to Hanoi. He endured almost three and a half years of maltreatment including frequent torture. 
      In 1988 Jerry was assigned to Ankara, Turkey for work as executive officer with me in one of the U.S. Mission sections. With my having been in and out of Viet Nam (mostly deeply in) for about 12 years ... we bonded pretty quickly. Jerry guided me with wise counsel, cooling my inclination to leap over or detour from regulations. He would always accompany advice with a generous smile and reminder that he (being one year older than I) was "elder brother". 
    During the course of our shared time we often drove roads far from Ankara and shared meals in remote villagers. We sought and found opportunity for conversationally derived understanding of what was percolating socially and politically. Jerry, an accomplished athlete,  had already picked up tennis as a form of rehabilitation from wounds twenty years past; and in Ankara we partnered during tournaments that enabled bridging a bit with foreign embassies of interest.
    A few years later we cooperated to background brief congressional and senate staffers with respect to some projects for improving relations with Viet Nam; because despite pain and anger on both sides there are shared interests in the Region.
      A good man, and great American.  



 


Having been a resident at Sterling Oaks for 20 years I spent many
hours playing tennis with Jerry and listening to his amazing stories
I did some research on his bio, printed it out and shared it with many, this was a man to be proud of.
I always found him "a good friend".  We should all be blessed with 
such a legacy.  Competitive and compassionate, the ultimate patriot.  While not seeing Jerry in a couple of years I will remember
him as he was in those years.  Someone I admired and who made this country a better place.  My condolences to Maria and family. 
Ken Moses
USMCR

Maria, I was so sad to read about Gerry’s passing.  I know your heart is breaking.  I knew Gerry for years before I knew of his incredible background.  He was so humble, gracious, always had a great smile for everyone, a true gentleman.  He will be missed, for sure.  You’ve both been missed here at SO for these past few years.  Sending loving and healing thoughts—
Pat Moses

I grew up with the Chirichigno family, one of Gerado's best friends beginning in 4th grade. I spent what seemed like every weekend during the school year and everyday over the summer at their house. Trips to Kings Dominion and skiing, Skyline Drive. The Chirichigno's were a second family to me. I was always in awe of Jerry, who at the time I would have called Mr. Chirichigno, his service to our country, and his strength and perseverance to overcome the challenges he faced as a POW. I looked at his medals and Army awards on the walls in his office and I can honestly say it was during those formatives while looking at his awards that I decided I would serve my country as well. My heart goes out to the whole family. 

OBITUARY

Luis Gerardo Chirichigno

June 21, 1937 – February 3, 2021

Katy Funeral Home

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