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*John Patrick O'Connell* |
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March 27, 1948 - February 4, 1998
Taken from us far too early, I miss you so much daddy.
You truly are my hero.
I now understand every good and bad decision you ever made.
I love you.
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In Vietnam 1971 |
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In Vietnam 1971 |
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Joined the USAF - June 10, 1968
37th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery - Sep. 21, 1970 - 71
DaNang AB, Republic of Vietnam HH-53 Crew Chief
416th Organizational Maintenance Sq. - Oct. 73 - Apr. 76
Griffis AFB, NY - B-52 Mechanic
67th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery - Apr. 76 - 79
Woodbridge AB, UK HH-53C Helicopter Tech.
HH-53C Inspection Dock - Apr. 79 - Jul. 81
Kirtland AFB, NM
Aircraft Technician Detachment 3 - Jul. 81 - Jul. 85
Air Force Flight Test Center, Nevada NTS
*There are several temporary duty locations that I do not know about and were never documented*
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526th Field Training Detachment - Jul. 85 - Jan. 88
Kirtland AFB, NM
1550 Organizational Maintenance Squadron
Kirtland AFB, NM
531st Field Training Detachment
Kirtland AFB, NM
CH-53C Helicopter Production Supervisor Jan. 88 - Jul. 88
Sembach, Germany
667 SOMS, Chief, MH-53J Helicopter Flight
Jul. 88 - Jul. 91
Woodbridge AB, UK
RETIRED 1991 - Nellis AFB, NV
*I know my father was involved in rescues in hostile situations all over the world. He was also a part of Operation Desert Storm* |
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In Vietnam 1971 |
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In Vietnam 1971 |
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Woodbridge AB, UK 1990 |
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At the Grand Canyon in October 1971, just after getting home from Vietnam. |
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I don't know the exact year for this photo, but I would guess it was somewhere around his senior year of high school. He graduated from Columbia High School in East Greenbush, NY in 1966. |
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My father joined the military shortly after graduating from high school. He went to Vietnam as a crew chief on the Jolly Green. After he got back to the US, he cross trained briefly and became a crew chief on the B-52 for a couple of years, then went back to the HH-53. I guess he never got it out of his heart. :) During the early 80's, he worked at the Nevada test sight, then got into Special Operations. In 1995, when I was a Loadmaster on the C-5 out of Dover AFB, DE, we went to Mildenhall AB, UK to pick up some Jolly Greens and the wonderful group of Special Operations personnel that worked on them. I recognized the patch...their commander came up to me to introduce himself and said...."O'Connell? I used to work with an O'Connell." He was my dad's old commander. He spoke very highly of him, and he wrote my father a letter to commend him on what a professional his daughter was. :) It meant a lot to me, but it meant so much more for my dad. He was apprehensive about my going into the Air Force, so when he got that letter, it eased his mind. I always wanted him to be proud of me, I wanted him to know I could be strong just like he was. Click here to read the letter and see more pics.
He passed away in February 1998 after a long hard battle with alcohol. When I was younger, I never understood why he couldn't win that fight. But now that I am an adult, and I can truly understand a lot of what he went through, I can see why a simple bottle would make such a strong man weak. It's still not an excuse though. My father saw a lot of pain in his life, mental and physical, but he always did his absolute best for me. And I love him more than ever for that. I only wish I'd realized it when he was still here. |
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Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Achievement Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, USAF Noncommissioned Officer Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Medal for Humane Action, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal with 1 Bronze Service Star, Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon, Air Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon, Air Force Training Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars, Distinguished Presidential Unit Citation, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm |
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Articles from Vietnam
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 |
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Lots and Lots of Photos
Scenery, Flightline, Aircraft
Page 1 Page 2
Page 3 Page 4 |
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Photos of People
In Vietnam |
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To the Photo Page
Attacks near 37 ARRS |
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Back to Main Page |
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Heather's Lupus Page |
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