RETHMAN, Vincent Carl (Vince)

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, Sunday, June 28, 2015 Vincent Carl Rethman Vince Rethman of Prescott, Arizona, born Feb. 19, 1916, entered heaven June 18, 2015. Vince was the fourth child of Elizabeth (Haug) and Bernard C. Rethman of Baileyville, Kansas. Sisters Agnes, Bette, Marie and Hildelita, all preceded him in death. In 1949, he wed the former Rosemary (Rhody) McCrone of Cleveland, Ohio, who passed on Aug. 6, 2013. He is survived by sons Drs. Michael and Kevin Rethman of Prescott, Dr. John Rethman of Warrenton, Virginia; their spouses Gilia, Susan and Catherine; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Vince graduated from the University of Kansas in 1939, and flew 69 fighter missions early in WWII. By mid-war, he was among an elite group of test pilots flying the Bell XP-59A - America's first jet fighter. Following WWII, Vince earned a graduate degree in aeronautics from MIT. His favorite military assignment was commanding an intelligence unit in Cold-War West Germany in the mid-1960s. Later he led two ultra-secret, months-long intelligence missions to the Middle East following the 1967 Six-Day War. Retiring as an Air Force Colonel in 1969, Vince then worked for McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) in Saint Louis. In 1987, he and Rhody moved to Cleveland and Venice, Florida, where they renewed and built new friendships. They re-located to Prescott in 2012 for health reasons. Vince was a remarkable man: Early in WWII, well before the Allies gained air superiority, he flew missions from which many of his squadron mates did not return. Over Tunisia, Vince had an engine shot-out and limped his P-38 several hundred miles "home" on the remaining engine. A one-time altar boy, he was unfailingly modest; a devout Catholic who was thoughtful and generous to all. American hero Vince will be greatly missed by all who knew him. His and Rhody's remains will be interred together at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. May God bless them both. Prescott services will be at 11 a.m. on Aug. 1, 2015, at Sacred Heart Church. Information provided by survivors.