Highest-ranking Indian-American BRIGADIER GENERAL RAVINDRA F. SHAH. DIED

NYC, October 5 -- News reports of a tragedy involving the highest-ranking Indian-American, who had served in the U.S. military, came on Saturday 28 September.

A small private plane carrying Brigadier General Dr. Ravindra Shah and his wife Dr. Manjula Shah of 2992 State Route 48, Oswego, NY, crashed in a heavily wooded area outside of Boston, shortly after 11 a.m.

One week later, the family, and those whose lives were touched by the two physicians are paying their tributes at private and public memorial services this week - including the one scheduled October 4th at the Air National Guard at Hancock Field, Syracuse, where Dr Shah served until his retirement last May.

Perhaps the best tribute anyone could bestow on Dr. Ravindra Shah was paid when this former commander of the 174th Fighter Wing was promoted to Brigadier General in August 1999. In his opening remarks during the ceremony, Major General John H. Fenimore, said: “It is the right thing to do for the Air Force, the United States of America, and for Dr. Ravi Shah, to promote him to brigadier general."

• BRIGADIER GENERAL RAVINDRA F. SHAH.