DANEKER JOHN G

CW4 John G. Daneker was a VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 09/27/2011 at the age of 82.2
Lexington, KY
Flight Class 56-13
Date of Birth 07/08/1929
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with 93 TC CO in 62, 8 TC CO in 62-63, 179 ASHC in 67
Call sign in Vietnam SHRIMPBOAT
This information was provided by obit by Sammie Williams

More detail on this person: Retired US Army Chief Warrant Officer W4 John G. Daneker of Lexington, KY, died Sep 27, 2011. He was 82 at the time.

Born in White Haven, PA and attended and graduated from the White Haven High School, Class of 1948. John entered the US Army in May 1950 and was assigned to Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD, where he attended Explosive Ordinance Disposal School. He was assigned to Korea in January, 1951 until December, 1953. He served with the 14th EOD Squad in Northeast Korea and later with the 24th EOD Control Detachment. During 1956 he entered the US Army Helicopter Flight Training School at FT Rucker, AL. After graduating he was assigned to the 8th Helicopter Company at FT Bragg, NC, to fly the H-21 helicopter. In 1959 he was assigned to Schofield Barracks, HI, to fly the H-21 with the 6th Helicopter Company. In February, 1962 he was reassigned to the 93rd Helicopter Company in Danang, South Vietnam and later to the 8th Helicopter Company located at Qui Nhon, Vietnam.

During March 1963, John returned to FT Benning, GA, and was assigned to the first Chinook (CH47) Battalion of the activated 11th Air Assault Division. After qualifying in the Chinook he spent considerable time at Boeing Vertol and the New Cumberland Army Depot performing production flight tests and acceptance test flights of the Chinook for the Army. From 1965 through 1966, John served as an Instructor and Flight Standardization pilot with the 177th at FT Benning, GA, training Chinook Pilots and compiling Chinook companies for deployment to Vietnam. During 1967, he served again in Vietnam with the 179th Chinook Company at Pleiku. In 1968, John was assigned to the US Army Aviation Test Board at FT Rucker, AL, as the Safety Officer and Test Pilot. In 1969, he was selected by the Warrant Officer Branch to write and teach the Safety Portion of the newly established Warrant Officer Advanced and Intermediate courses. During 1971 and 1972, he was selected and served in the Office of the Assistant Commandant at the Army Aviation Center. In 1973, John was assigned to Iran and served with the Technical Assistance Field Team. There he monitored the Iranian Army Flight Training Program and conducted Flight Standardization Checks of the Bell International Pilots and the student end of the phase and final check rides. In 1974, he returned to FT Rucker and was assigned to the Combat Development Command. He retired June 30, 1976.

In addition to his military career, John was also a NCAA Basketball and Football referee. He was the referee in the 1961 Hula Bowl Game in Hawaii and was selected into the Atlantic Coast Conference as a basketball referee in 1957. He was also an International Basketball Referee and traveled to numerous countries representing the United States and U.S. State Department. His awards and decorations include the US Master Army Aviator Badge; Senior Explosive Ordinance Disposal Badger; Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster; Air Medals; Accommodation Medals, Good Conduct Medal; Imperial Iranian Army Aviator Wings; and two Boeing Vertol Rescue Awards for daring night med-evac missions in Vietnam. On July 4, 2005, John was commissioned a Kentucky Colonel for contributions to the community.

John is survived by his wife Vivienne; three sons, two daughters, two stepsons, nine grandchildren, two step grandchildren and three great grandchildren, one brother and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and his first wife, Roberta in AL. John was a proud Army veteran who loved his many friends that he associated with along the way here and abroad. He lived a happy, full life and loved his family dearly. He will live forever on in our hearts. Contributions and other memorials to Hospice of the Blue Grass, 2312 Alexandria Dr., Lexington, KY 40504 or the Second Presbyterian Church, East Main Street, Lexington, KY, 40507.

This information was last updated 05/18/2016

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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024


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