KROESE JEROME ALLEN

CW3 Jerome Allen Kroese was a potential VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 01/30/1981 at the age of 37.6 from A/C accident
Fairbanks, AK
Flight Classes 68-507 and 68-7
Date of Birth 06/21/1943
Served in the U.S. Army
This information was provided by TAGCEN Casualty database.

More detail on this person: Jerome A Kroese Interment services for Chief Warrant Office 3 Jerome A. Kroese were conducted in Highland Cemetery Tuesday afternoon with Jerry Giles of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints officiating. Honorary pallbearers were Bob Powelson, Billings, Lee Powelson Bozeman, Randy Powelson, Havre, Jerry Vick, Columbia Falls, Giles Gregoire, Havre and 1st Lt. Burt Banda, Fairbanks, Alaska. The military honor guard from Fort Lewis, Wash. was commanded by Sgt. McCurry and consisted of a seven-man firing detail, six pallbearers and a bugler. Lt. Banda, the escort officer who accompanied the deceased from Fort Wainwright, to Havre, will accompany CWO-3 Kroese's wife during her return to Fairbanks where she will reside. CWO-3 Kroese, 37 was killed in a helicopter crash on January 30, near Clear Creek, Alaska while participating in maneuvers known as Operation Brim Frost. A memorial service was conducted at Fort Wainwright, Feb. 5. CWO-3, Jerome Allen Kroese was born June 21, 1943 in Hartley, Iowa, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Kroese (Deceased). He graduate from Escondido High School in California in 1961, attended the University of South Dakota for one year and Brigham Young University for three years. He received his bachelor's degree in 1978 and would have completed his Master's degree in counseling in the spring of 1981. CWO-3 Kroese was a member of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. On August 11,1974 he and Jean Powelson of Woodland Park, Colo. were married in St. Jude's Catholic Church in Havre. CWO-3 Kroese entered the U.S. Army in 1967 and graduated from flight school July 1968. He completed two tours of duty in the Republic Viet Nam during which he was awarded the Purple Heart. He was dual rated for helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. CWO-3 Kroese served in the Warrant Office Branch in Washington D.C. one year. In Nov.1973 he was assigned to Fort Carson, Colo. and he and his wife lived in Green Mountain Falls, Colo. CWO-3 Kroese graduated from the aviator safety officers course in 1976 and was assigned to Troop "E" (Air) 1st Cav. Fort Wainwright, Alaska in January 1977 His decorations included the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Air Medal with V Device, National Defense Service Medal, Army Aviation Badge, Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Air Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Armed Forces Reserve Medal, CWO-3 Kroese is survived by his wife Jean Ellen Kroese, Fairbanks, Alaska. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Powelson of Havre. He is also survived by a brother Norman J. Kroese of Excondido, Calif. CWO-3 Kroese was an avid outdoorsman. CW3 Kroese is one of two killed (one survived) when their Bell UH1 Huey helicopter crashed during OPERATION BRIM-FROST (joint winter maneuvers) in the Clear Creek training area south of Fairbanks. Also killed is CW3 James Neely Farrell Jr. of Marrero, LA.

Burial information: Highland Cemetery, Havre, MT

This information was last updated 02/11/2019

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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024


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