UPDATE
A memorial celebration will be held for Ray Ferrante on Saturday, May 2nd at the Ferrante residence from 1:00pm – 4:00pm.
Arrangements are being made for interment at Arlington National Cemetery, date to be determined. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Ray’s name to the Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA), the National Guard Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program, or a national veterans charity of your choice.
Raymond Paul Ferrante Obituary from the William J. Leber Funeral Home
Chapter members and friends on the email list will be informed via email when final interment arrangements are announced. If you would like to be added to the Chapter email list, please send a request to 101stairbornenynjchapter@gmail.com
We regret to inform the Chapter of the death of a Screaming Eagle combat veteran and dear friend, Raymond Ferrante, who was fatally injured in a motor vehicle collision on the evening of Saturday, April 18th.
Chapter members and friends may visit this website for updated information regarding funeral arrangements and may send any questions or comments to the Chapter’s email address: 101stairbornenynjchapter@gmail.com
Ferrante was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam, serving as a pilot from 1969-1970. He flew UH-1H “Huey” helicopters, serving first as a Kingsman of Company B, 101st Assault Helicopter Battalion (AHB). Ray then extended his combat tour to serve in Company A, 101st AHB, where his call sign was Comanchero 12.
He was the unit’s instructor pilot and flew lead ship in many major combat assaults, as well as in cross-border operations run by the MACV-SOG CCN (Command and Control North) units out of Marble Mountain, Phu Bai and Dong Ha. In addition to his civilian piloting on returning to the States, Ray flew AH-1 Cobra helicopters for the New Jersey National Guard, also qualifying in the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter prior to his retirement from the Guard with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer grade 5 (CW5). Ray had accumulated over 25,000 hours of flight time during his career, including over 2,100 hours in the Vietnam combat zone for the U.S. Army.
General Anthony C. McAuliffe NY-NJ Chapter 
Words can not adequately express for the untimely and tragic lost of Raymond Ferrante as comrade-in-arms; brother officer; and loyal best friend – as well as member of extended Family and simply a great American and fearless warrior. A lost to his dear Family; to the Nation; and to us all that knew and honored him. With tears and sorrow. Walter Reed Martindale, III, U.S. State Department & USAR
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Mr. Martindale — by any chance, would you be the same Walter Reed Martindale, III who served as Advisor of Pleiku Chief of Province?
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Yes – the same Embassy,Office of Special Field Operations (SAFFO) and CONGEN II officer Walt Martindale
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Mr. Martindale, thank you for replying. I’m the daughter of Mr. Do Thien of the Pleiku Province, and you have done so very much for my family. He would very much like to be in touch with you. Would you please email him at thiendocantho@hotmail.com?
Thank you,
T.
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