MAJ. DAVID W.L. WIK (RET) Maj. David W.L. Wik took his final flight on April 7, 2007 in Corpus Christi with his family at his side. He was born on May 16, 1933 in Cresbard, South Dakota. After college he enlisted in the U.S. Army where he became a helicopter pilot. His assignments included a tour of duty in Korea and two tours in Vietnam where he served as commanding officer of the DUSTOFF helicopter unit. His career consisted of flying 1,174 combat hours and the evacuation of 4,368 wounded soldiers and civilians to medical facilities. Maj. Wik’s many honors include 5 Distinguished Flying Crosses and 37 Air Medals. His final command was at Ft. Sam Houston, where he used his medical evacuation experience to develop and implement MAST, a program that aids in the evacuation of civilians severely injured in highway accidents. Maj. Wik retired in 1973 and was inducted into The South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame in 2005. Dave was known for being a colorful, spirited man who never met a stranger. His retirement years were spent fishing and traveling the world with friends and family, living his life to the fullest each day. His zest for life was unyielding and he will be lovingly missed and warmly remembered. DUSTOFF 6, you are cleared to hover to the ramp… He is survived by his wife Valerie; his children and grandchildren Colette, Jean-Marc (Butch) and wife Karen, Bruce and wife Lisa, Dale and wife Renate, Peter, Mark and wife Kara, Andrea and husband Bryan, Rosalyn, Alex, Randi, Nikolas, Nicole, Renee, Blake, Christel, Brett, and his loving dog Tasha.
