MASTERSON JOSEPH H

COL Joseph "Doc" H. Masterson was a VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 11/27/2013 at the age of 84.1 from Heart attack
Columbus, GA
Flight Classes 60-6Q and 56-12FW
Date of Birth 10/18/1929
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with 145 CAB in 65, 197 AHC in 65-66
Call sign in Vietnam SABER SIX
This information was provided by Sammie Williams

More detail on this person: Col. (Ret.) Joseph H. Masterson, SR., 84, Columbus, GA, passed away on Wednesday, November 27, 2013 from sudden heart failure. A devout Catholic he was anointed Last Rights by Father Daniel O'Connell of Holy Family Catholic Church at St. Francis Hospital, Columbus, GA.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 AM, Monday, December 2, 2013 at The Church of the Holy Family with Rev Father Daniel O'Connell officiating. Interment will be in Ft. Mitchell National Cemetery with full Military Honors. A rosary will be said 5:00 PM Sunday, December 1, 2013 at McMullen Funeral Home, 3874 Gentian Blvd. Columbus, GA 31907.

Col. Masterson was born October 18, 1929 in Ironwood, MI to the late HJ Masterson and Rose Sturgul Masterson. He was an only child who was raised in Hurley, WI. He attended and graduated from St. Ambrose Elementary School, J.E. Murphy High School, and Gogebic Junior College. He joined the U.S. Army in 1949 as a private and was commissioned as Second Lieutenant (Infantry) from Officer Candidate School, Ft. Riley, KS. During his military career that spanned several decades, he attended Airborne, Ranger, and fixed Wing and Rotary Wing Flight School. His wife Joyce (Santini) Masterson preceded him in death in 1968, leaving him a widower with three small children to raise. He fought in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Some of his awards and decorations include two Silver Stars, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Bronze Star for Valor, Army Commendation for Valor, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, 13 Air Medals for Valor, Ranger Tab, Master Aviator's Badge, and Master Parachutist Badge. He also was inducted into the OCS Hall of Fame, Ft. Benning GA. Immediately following his heroic actions in Korea, a rifle range was named after him. During the Vietnam War, he flew 618 combat missions as a helicopter gunship Company Commander and was shot down on several occasions. His unit helped support a nearby Vietnamese orphanage. After retiring from the Army as a full Colonial in 1976, he moved to Columbus, GA and became an owner, trainer, and driver of Standardbred Race Horses. His passion for racehorses was passed on to him by his father, who was in the Wisconsin Race Horse Hall of Fame and was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), American Legion, 40-8, and Purple Heart Association.

Survivors include his wife; Susan Park Masterson, of Columbus, GA, daughter; Colonel Peggy Masterson-Agee and husband Col. (Ret.) Edward Agee, Decatur, AL, sons; Joseph H. Masterson, JR (Debbie) of Smyrna, GA, Paul Masterson (Sherri) of Columbus, GA, step-son; Lon Adams (Deanna), California, 7 grandchildren; Joshua Masterson, Gregory Moreno, Katelin Masterson, Jamie Moreno, Olivia Masterson, Eileen Masterson, and Alexandria Adams.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributionsbe made to Holy Family Catholic Church, 320 12th Street, Columbus, GA.

Those who wish may sign the online guest registry at www.mcmullenfuneralhome.com

Published in Columbus Ledger-Enquirer on Dec. 1, 2013

This information was last updated 05/18/2016

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