Jim Scanlon (deceased)
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Nov 12, 2008 13:54:34 GMT 9
It seems that most newspapers in the States don't do a very good job of publishing obituaries of some of the passing heros. The Telegraph in London, UK has an excellent obituary page. They give good obits of those who have served in the British armed forces and many from the American forces. They had, for instance, an excellent obit of Col. Don Blakeslee. I am fascinated by the way they bring out the exploits of many of the heros of World War Two and give lots of information about their time in service and after. It might be worth a look. You can find them at: www.telegraph.co.ukThe obituaries are at the bottom of the home page in a long listing of subjects. Enjoy your reading. Jim Scanlon Decended from County Sligo
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Post by jimpadgett on Apr 5, 2009 4:34:11 GMT 9
Noticed your 5th FIS patch. Worked with Nade Strickland at ADC Hq in 1973-1974 lost track of him. Col Wofford is a member of this site I noticed. I was at Det 1, 5th FIS Billings ,MT 197-1971. Good Luck, Jim Padgett
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
Senior Staff
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Commander South Texas outpost of the County Sligo Squadron
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Retired: USAF NBA: Spurs NFL: Niners MLB: Giants NHL: Penguins
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Apr 21, 2009 2:41:52 GMT 9
Colonel Felix "Doc" Blanchard , USAF Retired, died on 19 April at the age of 84. Blanchard was a part of the U. S. Military Academy football team, along with Glenn Davis. They both were All Americans. I remember listening to their exploits on the radio during the war as Bill Stern broadcast the games and touted Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside. Blanchard went in to the Air Force and flew fighters in Korea and Nam. I saw him at Yuma a couple of times. The parachute seemed awfully small on his broad back. He was a real Patriot and will be missed. Jim :god_bless_usa
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chiefothedarts
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Post by chiefothedarts on May 15, 2009 4:46:29 GMT 9
James E. 'LEW" Luedecke, April 13,1934 to May 12, 2009. Born in Hamilton, Montana and passed away in Atwater, CA.. Jim joined the USAf in 1956 and served for twenty one years. He was a 431 and worked on the F-106 Delta Darts for many years. I knew Jim at th 84th FIS at Castle AFB where he ran the PE Dock for many years. I also knew him at Misawa AB , Japan in the late 50s and early 60s when the 4th FIS had the F-86Ds and then transitioned to the F-102As. That was the old days when we lived out in "B" Battery about a mile from the main gate. Anyway, I knew Jim for many years in the USAF and after we Retired. He was a great guy, worked hard, was a master mechanic, and a good friend to many fellow SIXERS.. I have sent his obit to Joe Sylvia, our Convair Tech Rep, as I am sure that he would like to know that our old friend is ar rest in a better place. I will be attending his Funeral on Saturday and will give our regards to his Family from the F-106 Family. 'LEW". Rest in Peace.. Ralph L. Robledo
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
Senior Staff
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Commander South Texas outpost of the County Sligo Squadron
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Posts: 5,075
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Retired: USAF NBA: Spurs NFL: Niners MLB: Giants NHL: Penguins
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Jul 27, 2009 2:15:36 GMT 9
:salute :salute
Henry Patch died yesterday, 25 July, at the age of 111. He was the last know British World War One veteran. Machine gunner in trench warfare.
Henry Allingham died on the 18th at 113. He was the last survivor of the original RAF.
There is one survivor of WW1 in Australia, Claude Stanley Choules (born 3 March 1901), Royal Navy.
One in Canada, John Henry Foster "Jack" Babcock (born July 23, 1900), who was in training at the end of the war and never saw combat.
One in the U.S., Frank Woodruff Buckles (born February 1, 1901), he was an ambulance driver.
There may be more out there, but no one knows for sure.
They are the last of those who were a part of "The War to End All Wars". Sad to know that that generation's fighting men are almost gone. The World War Two vets are next.
I remember veterans of the War Between the States and the Spanish American War. They would march in parades until they had to ride in open cars. Then they were gone. I wonder if we will be remembered as those from past wars are. Or will we just be placed beneath the cross at the military cemetery and forgotten.
Jim
:god_bless_usa
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Post by Jim on Jul 27, 2009 3:34:42 GMT 9
I wonder if we will be remembered as those from past wars are. Or will we just be placed beneath the cross at the military cemetery and forgotten. Jim -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The answer is NO..... They can't get rid of us fast enough- terrorists you know...........And the cross will be illegal to display as it will no doubt offend someone.......... The Old Sarge
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Post by lindel on Jul 27, 2009 4:43:06 GMT 9
I would imagine the Star of David will be put in the same catagory.
They may outlaw my Christianity, but they'll never take it from me.
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Post by Gene on Jul 27, 2009 12:15:12 GMT 9
Luke AFB is west of Phoenix and is rapidly being surrounded by civilization that complains about the noise from the base and its planes, forgetting that it was there long before they were. A certain lieutenant colonel at Luke AFB deserves a big pat on the back. Apparently, an individual who lives somewhere near Luke AFB wrote the local paper complaining about a group of F-16s that disturbed his/her day at the mall. When that individual read the response from a Luke AFB officer, it must have stung quite a bit. The complaint: 'Question of the day for Luke Air Force Base: Whom do we thank for the morning air show? Last Wednesday, at precisely 9:11 A.M, a tight formation of four F-16 jets made a low pass over Arrowhead Mall, continuing west over Bell Road at approximately 500 feet. Imagine our good fortune! Do the Tom Cruise-wannabes feel we need this wake-up call, or were they trying to impress the cashiers at Mervyns early bird special? Any response would be appreciated. The response: Regarding 'A wake-up call from Luke's jets' On June 15, at precisely 9:12 a.m., a perfectly timed four- ship fly by of F-16s from the 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base flew over the grave of Capt. Jeremy Fresques. Capt Fresques was an Air Force officer who was previously stationed at Luke Air Force Base and was killed in Iraq on May 30, Memorial Day. At 9 a.m. on June 15, his family and friends gathered at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City to mourn the loss of a husband, son and friend. Based on the letter writer's recount of the fly by, and because of the jet noise, I'm sure you didn't hear the 21-gun salute, the playing of taps, or my words to the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques as I gave them their son's flag on behalf of the President of theUnited States and all those veterans and servicemen and women who understand the sacrifices they have endured.. A four-ship fly by is a display of respect the Air Force gives to those who give their lives in defense offreedom. We are professional aviators and take our jobs seriously, and on June 15 what the letter writer witnessed was four officers lining up to pay their ultimate respects. The letter writer asks, 'Whom do we thank for the morning airshow? The 56th Fighter Wing will make the call for you, and forward your thanks to the widow and parents of Capt Fresques, and thank them for you, for it was in their honor that my pilots flew the most honorable formation of their lives. Only 2 defining forces have ever offered to die for you....Jesus Christ and the American Soldier. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom. Lt. Col. Grant L. Rosensteel, Jr. USAF i got this story in an email at work... i thought i would pass it on! anyone of you snowbirds in AZ. here about this??
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Post by pat perry on Sept 15, 2009 10:22:41 GMT 9
From Bill Hoover 456th FIS Pilot. Ken Bell was one of the first 456th FIS Pilots at Castle AFB when they flew the F-86D. We were looking forward to having him and Rosemary at our 2010 reunion at Colorado Springs. Ken wrote a excellent book called "100 Missions North" AMAZONFrom West Point Military Academy Class of 1954 www.usma1954.org With great sadness I report the death of our classmate Ken Bell. Ken died at home in Monument, Colorado Friday 11 October 2009. Ken’s wife, Rosemary was at his side. He suffered from emphysema for many years and respiratory failure finally took its toll. Ken served our country for 30 years before retiring as a Brigadier General in 1984. Ken flew the F-105 Thunderchief fighter-bomber in Vietnam, both North and South. Interestingly, the F-105 was also retired in 1984 from the Air National Guard. Among his many awards were three Silver Stars, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, and three Legion of Merit medals. Ken and Rosemary were married in 1968 and have two sons, Chris and David. A service celebrating Ken’s life will be held at 10:00 am Friday the 18th of October at Monument Community Presbyterian Church, 238 3rd Street, Monument, Colorado. Interment will take place at the U.S. Air Force Academy Cemetery immediately following the church service. In lieu of flowers individuals are ask to make donations to the American Lung Association. Rosemary resides at 20180 Silver Horn Lane, Monument, CO 80132; phone 719-488-2984. His USAF Bio is here at this link: www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=4655 Ken was 78 years old (1931-2009) Salute to a fallen warrior, Pat P. :us_flag
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Post by Gene on Sept 15, 2009 14:32:45 GMT 9
:salute :salute :salute
:god_bless_usa
p.s. i wonder if breathing thru a nose hose for so long might have contributed to the emphysema??? that what my dad died of... 30 years of it..
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Post by Mark O on Oct 16, 2009 10:17:15 GMT 9
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Post by Gene on Oct 16, 2009 10:23:42 GMT 9
i remember the "coke bottle" thing from somewhere.
:salute :salute
:us_flag
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Post by Jim on Dec 27, 2009 6:30:48 GMT 9
.JACK PITCHFORD, 82 Jack Pitchford | Fighter pilot endured torture at `Hanoi Hilton' JACKSON, Mississippi -- (AP) -- Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Jack Pitchford, a fighter pilot who survived seven years in the Vietnamese prison camp known as the ``Hanoi Hilton,'' has died. He was 82.
The Mississippi native died Wednesday after battling a brain tumor, said his brother, Jim Pitchford.
Pitchford was shot down over North Vietnam in 1965 and taken to Hoa Lo prison, a hellish place where many Americans, including U.S. Sen. John McCain and Medal of Honor recipient George ``Bud'' Day, endured brutal torture.
Pitchford was released in 1973, the same year as McCain, who was imprisoned there in 1967 after his own plane was shot down. Pitchford never fully recovered from his injuries, but never regretted his service to his country, his brother said.
``His achievement in life was really sustaining himself through the ordeal in prison camp, and he considered himself a very fierce resister,'' Jim Pitchford said, recalling a story another prisoner told him about his brother.
``One day, when it was his time to offer the blessing at a group meal, he said, `Lord, we thank you for this dog s--- we're about to consume and we ask that you come down and smite these heathen bastards.''
Pitchford attended Louisiana State University on the GI bill after World War II, then entered the Air Force's officer training program. He missed combat in both World War II and Korea because of training assignments, his brother said. Pitchford volunteered for a perilous assignment in Vietnam with the Wild Weasels, pilots who flew low-altitude missions hunting down and destroying surface-to-air missiles.
Pitchford became the first Weasel pilot taken prisoner after bailing out of his F-100 Super Sabre on Dec. 20, 1965, according to his brother and Air Force records. Pitchford was shot in the arm three times and the man flying with him, Bob Trier, was killed in a gun battle on the ground, Jim Pitchford said.
Pitchford had no children, but he was deeply proud of six nephews in the Marines and another in the Army, his brother said The Old Sarge
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Lee Nellist
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Post by Lee Nellist on Jan 7, 2010 10:07:17 GMT 9
I have often saw entries on this forum about political correctness. I just read the article in the Air Force Association magazine about my good friend Duane Hackney. I knew him well when he was here at K.I. Sawyer. Some things were not said in the article and probably just as well. He was essentially relieved of his 1st Sgt duties of the SP squadron here because he was "To hard on the troops" He once said to me: "Lee, I was just trying to teach them how to survive" He was a humble person and you would never know what he went through in Vietnam although he and I had numerous conversations about what we had in common over there. Another thing they didn't mention was the fact that he drove himself to the hospital in the middle of his first heart attack which occurred here. If you haven't read the article, please do.
Lee Nellist
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Jan 30, 2010 12:31:09 GMT 9
:salute :us_flag :patriotic-flagwaver :salute
Lt. Col. Lee Archer, Tuskegee Airman, passes
1/29/2010 - SAN ANTONIO (AFNS) -- Lt. Col. Lee Archer, a World War II fighter pilot with the Tuskegee Airmen, died Jan. 27 at the age of 90. He died of coronary complications at New York Hospital in New York City.
Colonel Archer entered the Army in November 1941 and received training as a telegrapher and field network-communications specialist. In December 1942, he was accepted into aviation cadet training and reported to the Tuskegee Army Airfield in Tuskegee, Ala.
On July 28, 1943, after graduating number one in his class and receiving his commission as a second lieutenant, he was assigned to the 302nd Fighter Squadron under the 332nd Fighter Group. The group was transferred to Italy during World War II.
Colonel Archer flew 169 combat missions, flying cover and escorting long-range bombers over more than 11 countries, as well as strafing missions against enemy landing zones and troops on the ground.
Colonel Archer held numerous post-war leadership and staff positions including chief of protocol for the French Liaison Office, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe; White House Air Force-France project officer; chief or executive officer of three international military organizations including the SHAPE Liaison Office, the 36th North American Air Defense Division and Headquarters U.S. Air Force Southern Command in Panama.
Colonel Archer enjoyed continuing success in civilian life, as vice president for urban affairs at General Foods Corporation; CEO of North Street Capital Corp.; and chairman of Hudson Commercial Corp. He also served on the Board of Directors of Beatrice International Foods and the Institute for American Business, a General Motors Venture Capital Subsidiary.
He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and received special citations from Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson, along with the Director of the CIA. Archer retired as a lieutenant colonel after 29 years of service and resided in New Rochelle, N.Y.
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
Senior Staff
FORUM CHAPLAIN
Commander South Texas outpost of the County Sligo Squadron
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Posts: 5,075
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Retired: USAF NBA: Spurs NFL: Niners MLB: Giants NHL: Penguins
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Feb 2, 2010 2:49:09 GMT 9
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Post by Gene on Apr 14, 2010 7:11:52 GMT 9
Enola Gay Crewman Dies: Former Lt. Morris R. Jeppson, who served as assistant weaponeer on the B-29 Enola Gay when it dropped the atom bomb on Japan on Aug. 6, 1945, died March 30. He was 87. According to an Associated Press report, the mission that helped end World War II was Jeppson's only combat mission. AP reports that in a 2003 interview, Jeppson recalled the bombing as "a devastating thing" but one that "probably saved hundreds of thousands of American lives and many more Japanese lives." After the war, reported the New York Times, he worked on nuclear projects for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and started a company that made high-power microwave heating systems. (Also read UPI report
:salute :salute :salute
:us_flag
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
Senior Staff
FORUM CHAPLAIN
Commander South Texas outpost of the County Sligo Squadron
Currently: Offline
Posts: 5,075
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Joined: July 2007
Retired: USAF NBA: Spurs NFL: Niners MLB: Giants NHL: Penguins
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Apr 17, 2010 9:47:11 GMT 9
Judy Price sent this to me this afternoon. Bill got orders for his final assignment, and now is in the presence of the Lord. What a promotion: To GLORY. Please pray for Judy and the family. Jim Too :god_bless_usa
:salute Jim~ Bill passed away today after a week in the hospital with pneumonia. He fought a good fight against the cancer and then the pneumonia, but he didn't win this one. We're comforted knowing where he is. He was a fine Christian man and well loved in our community. Please let the others know for me. Thank you. Judy
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Post by Jim on Apr 17, 2010 11:03:48 GMT 9
Prayers be with you Judy. Jim and Sandy Gier
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Post by Gene on Apr 17, 2010 15:08:12 GMT 9
Requiescat in pace
R.I.P.
:salute :salute :salute
:fire_missle_ani
............... :fire_missle_ani
... :fire_missle_ani
:god_bless_usa
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