Van Vleet, a game management instructor at Washington State College from 1934 to 1937, was a Captain in the Army Air Corps. Riding as an observer on a B-24J on January 21, 1944, the plane crashed on takeoff, killing Van Vleet.
Born December 28, 1915, he graduated from WSC with a Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.VM). He joined the US Army Air Corps and was assigned to the 495th Fighter Training Group. He died in a plane crash May 4, 1944.
Carl John Erickson, born in 1915, attended WSC from 1933-1937, graduating with a degree in Agricultural Business. A Flight Officer in the US Army Air Corps, he was killed when the glider he was piloting went down over the Mediterranean on May 12, 1943.
Frank Waldner, born January 7, 1919, attended WSC from 1939 to 1943 and graduated with a BS in Forestry. Serving as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps, he was killed in France on January 23, 1945 while on night patrol.
William "Bill" Ritchie, born April 20, 1919, attended WSC from 1936-1939 as a Business Admin major. Part of the 563rd Bomb Squad of the 388th Bomb Group, he was a B-17 Bombardier. His plane went down after a bombing run over Hamburg, July 25, 1943.
