Stephen Lynn Hitch ²

Notes from Steve Hitch (10/22/2000): "Stephen L. Hitch was born October 5, 1949 in Frankfort Indiana at Clinton county Hospital and delivered by Dr. Paul Van Kirk. Parents Kenneth James and Helen Joanne Gunion Hitch Brothers Kenneth Ray and Daniel J. Lived on West Morrison Street until 1st grader, Central Ave. until 3rd grader, West Jefferson St until the 6th grade 1152 Mckinley avenue until 22, 805 5th Street until 1982 and currently resides at 1009 North Jackson Street. All in Frankfort Indiana. Attended Woodside Elementary School until 3rd grade, Lincoln Elementary School until 6th grade, Frankfort Jr. High School grades 7 through 9 and Graduated from Frankfort Senior High School in May of 1967 Hobbies include Sports primarily Basketball, Baseball, Football and Golf. Never participated in any league sports as a child or in school athletics but played Industrial league Basketball for 10 years winning many trophys and played Industrial league Slow Pitch Baseball for 10 years. Played Golf since 1972 and organized and ran the Post Office Golf tourney and Hitch Rules Golf Tourney. Avid Runner from age 25 to age 50. Created and wrote the Hitch Rules Golf Book. Was on Indiantown Gap Military Reservation Fast Pitch Championship Softball team. Avid Reader with a love for books about Sailing Ships. Coin Collector, Stamp Collector and Sports card Collector. Motorcycle enthusiast, riding since he was 15. Computer fantasy sport enthusiast. Pets... Alaskan Eskimo Dog named Bruno who turned bad and was given away in 1984. Wire Haired Boston Terrier given to him as a birthday present in 1997 named TD. Never married. Girlfriends Nancy Overton 1970, Sharon Shell 1978, Gail Tagelio 1979 and Mary Catherine Cole 1983 to present day. Military Service from 1967 to 1970 U. S. Army. Initially went to join the Air force with buddy Tom Hodges but returned the same day to Lafayette recruiting Office with buddies Bill Hailman and Tom Capolli to join the Navy. Was unable to get in the Navy before buddy Hailman would be drafted so they talked to U.S. Army recruiter SSGT. Burns and join the Army under the buddy plan. During the enlistment process Hailman failed his physical and was released as physically unable to enlist. Hitch and Capolli were assigned to the 2nd training Brigade, 9th Battalion B company for Basic Infantry training in November of 1967. Note: Assigned to platoons based on alphabet system thus Capolli assigned to 1st platoon Hitch to 2nd Platoon. As a result the only time they were together during basic training was on one Post Pass for 1 day. Graduated from Basic training in 8 weeks, Capolli assigned to Fort Knox for advanced training--Steve Hitch was sent to Fort Leonard Wood Missouri for advanced training as a clerk. Graduated from advanced training in March of 1968 give a 2 week leave home and then assigned to the shipping station in Oakland California before going to Vietnam on April 13, 1968. Assigned to Headquarters Company 164th Combat Aviation Group 1st Aviation Brigade in Can Tho Vietnam located in the Mekong Delta. On arrival the initial orders to report for duty as a clerk were rescinded and he was assigned the the security platoon instead. During the first few months he provided perimeter security as a guard on the base and at 2 locations in the City of Can Tho. He was also assigned to assist the Awards and decorations Clerk off and on through his tours of duty (the only clerk work he ever performed). Additional duties included Convoy details (riding shotgun), message courier, driver for the Adjutant and flew occasionally on helicopters. Flew twice as door gunner and flew approximately 6 times on a Light Observation helicopter piloted by the Adjutant as there only fire power using an M-14 rifle. Under fire on several occasions, twice by sniper fire, often by Mortar and Rocket fire and in 2 small fire fights and 1 major assault on the base. Was never wounded but had a minor concussion from a near miss from a mortar shell and loss all his hair from what was diagnosed as severe combat fatigue. Remained however active with his unit until his tour of duty was up on April 12 1969. Assigned to Fort Dix Infantry training Brigade from May to September 1969 (underwent medical treatment for Combat Fatigue at Walter Reed Hospital there), assigned to Indiantown Gap Military Reservation from Sept. 1969 to Nov. 1970. The Gap was a semi rehab center for many soldiers with medical problems and they were transported weekly to Valley Forge General Hospital for treatment. Oddly with a psychological problem the Army chose to use him for burial details at least once a week during this same time. Was discharged honorably in November 1970. Occupations: Carried Lafayette Journal Courrier for a short time at age 12, worked at Schulz Grocery Store at age 14 to 17 as sack boy and stock boy, worked for short time at Del Monte Canning factory after graduation from High School, Military service for 3 years, worked at Rohn Spaulding for 2 weeks 1971 and works as an part time custodian and the Post Office which turned into a full time Custodial Maintenance position the next year. Has worked at the Post Office 29 years to date and works part time at St. Matthews Methodist Church caring for their floors. Note: during the 1st year after his military service he was unable to get work due to his disability from service in Vietnam. No one would hire him due to the psychological problems they believed would effect his work. A very difficult time which turned out to his benefit with the Postal Job. Many of the positions he applied for at varying businesses and factories would have been lost when these businesses closed."

Stephen married Mary Catherine Cole, daughter of Richard Cole and Mary Ruth Gaskey, in May 1982 in Frankfort, Clinton Co., IN.¹ (Mary Catherine Cole was born on 04 May 1958 in Hammond, IN.)