More detail on this person: Rennie M. Cory Rennie Melville Cory, 79, of Fayetteville, beloved husband, father, grandfather and distinguished military veteran, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2007, at Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville following complications from heart surgery. A great soldier, Col. Cory was blessed with a career he loved, serving a country he loved. He celebrated life by surrounding himself with family and friends and his love, Maria. Col. Cory graduated from Randolph Macon Academy in Front Royal, Va., in 1947. He also attended the United States Military Academy Preparatory School and the University of Virginia. He was also a graduate of various service schools. Col. Cory entered the Army in 1947 and was a veteran of both the Korean and Vietnam wars. He also commanded during Operation Power Pack in the Dominican Republic and commanded one of the original 82nd Airborne aviation companies. Col. Cory entered combat for the first time in Korea as a field artillery forward observer with Task Force Smith in June 1950. With minimal resources, he destroyed numerous enemy tanks and for these actions was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. As a member of the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) in Vietnam, he was among the first to command aerial rocket artillery in support of ground combat forces. Later, as a commander in the 1st Aviation Brigade, his unit was a combined assault unit staffed with Royal Australian aviators and U.S. personnel. During his command, he was cited in dispatches for action during Tet Offensive in 1968. Twenty-five years of aviation service included six years in the 82nd Airborne Division and over 4,000 flight hours, of which 1,500 were in combat. Col. Cory was a soldier's soldier. He retired in 1979 with more than 32 years of military service. In addition to the Distinguished Service Cross, he was also awarded the Silver Star, two Legion of Merit medals, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, a Bronze Star with Valor device, the Purple Heart and 20 Air Medals. In 1979, Col. Cory was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest civilian honor from the state of North Carolina. After retiring, Col. Cory worked in Israel and Saudi Arabia for Vinnell Corp. and Bell Helicopter. After returning to Fayetteville, he went on to volunteer at numerous Fort Bragg and Fayetteville community and activity service organizations. He was the vice president of the Cape Fear Chapter of MOAA for three years. Col. Cory was also employed by Northrop Grumman until 2005 and was able to travel all over the world. Col. Cory was born on March 1, 1928, to the late Walter and Virginia Cory of Front Royal, Va. He later married Mary Patricia Apgar, who preceded him in death in 1966. Also preceding him in death was his brother, Walter; his granddaughter, Courtney Ausborn; and his beloved son, Lt. Col. Rennie M. Cory Jr. Col. Cory is survived by his loving wife of 31 years, Maria; his daughters, Stephanie Boysen and Virginia Rawlick; and stepdaughters, Veronika Lancaster, Judith Aumer and Barbara Reiser. He also leaves behind 14 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a niece and nephew. A service and Mass with full military honors will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. at the Main Post Chapel on Fort Bragg, followed by a burial at Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery in Spring Lake. A viewing will take place at Rogers and Breece Funeral Home on Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, his family request that donations be made to The Haven Friends for Life, 400 Fulford McMillan Road, Raeford, NC 28376.
Burial information: Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery, Spring Lake, NC
This information was last updated 03/06/2018
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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