On a mission on March 20, 1967, just three months after his arrival, as part of the Vietnam War Counteroffensive, Phase II, Lichte’s helicopter crash-landed in South Vietnam, killing Lichte. At the time, Lichte and his crew were flying a late-night medevac mission and flew into a mountain. His crew included Edward L. Bush, Jack R. Lichte Jr., Clifford R. Herrin, and SP4 Ronald R. Fillmore. Since Lichte was a commissioned officer, it is likely that he would have served as a crew commander on board the helicopter. All crew members were killed in the crash. Lichte’s body was eventually recovered, and he was subsequently buried in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.