QUEDENS BERNARD B

COL Bernard "Bernie" B. Quedens was a VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 06/16/2012 at the age of 79.9 (Exact date not known.)
Montgomery, AL
Flight Class 56-11
Date of Birth 07/10/1932
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with 57 TC CO in 63, 120 AVN in 63-64, B/9 AVN 9 INF in 67, HHC/1 AVN BDE in 67
Call signs in Vietnam DEAN, STINGRAY
This information was provided by Sammie Williams

More detail on this person: Quedens, Bernard Bruno, "Bernie", (Col. U. S. A, ret), age 79, passed away on Saturday, June 16, 2012. A "Celebration of his life" will be held at Frazer Memorial UMC in Montgomery, AL on June 21, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. with a reception to follow at the church. Burial will follow with full military honors at Arlington Cemetery in Washington, DC at a later date. Bernie was born July 10, 1932 in Long Island City, NY to Bruno J. Quedens and Erna Bose Quedens, American citizens from Germany. He returned to Germany with his family at a young age and returned to the United States in 1951, he was drafted in 1952 and completed basic training at Brecken Ridge, KY and shortly after attended OCS at Ft. Sill, OK. He was assigned to the 82nd Air Borne Division, Ft. Bragg, NC following which he became a fixed wing and rotary wing qualified aviator at Ft. Rucker, AL and returned to the 82nd Air Borne Division and subsequently became the Operations Officer for the 120 Aviation Company in Saigon, RVN in Feb. of 1963. After serving a year in Vietnam he returned to the United States and commanded a company in the Dominican Republic Operation in 1966. After the Dominican Republic he attended General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, KS. He then returned to Vietnam and commanded a helicopter company in combat in 1967. After returning to the U. S., Bernie received an undergraduate degree from St. Benedict's College in Kansas and a Masters Degree from the University of Southern California. Subsequent assignments were with staff positions and command positions of a battalion and as an aviation Staff Officer in the Pentagon. Bernie's long and distinguished military career earned him a Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, a Bronze Star with two clusters and an Air Medal (16), Meritorious Service Medal with three awards, Army Commendation Medal with two awards, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Expeditionary Medal, Armed Services Reserve Medal, Vietnam Services Medal with three stars, Vietnam Combat Medal, VCG with Palm, Republic of Vietnam Civilian Action Honor Medal, RVN Training Service Medal, Parachute Badge, Master Army Aviator Badge, Meritorious Unit Citation. He was a Master Army Aviator with 4000 hours of flying time, 400 of which were flown in combat. He was predeceased by his parents and two sisters.

Bernie is survived by his wife, Barbara Morgan Quedens. Bernie and Barbara shared a family of five children, Guy Quedens of Plano, TX, Marret Q. Poston of Southern Pines, NC, Bill Treadway of Sarasota, FL, Judy T. Barranco of Montgomery, AL and Cathy Zombro of San Diego, CA and twelve grandchildren.

The Professional In Combat

Bernie Quedens was a past master at war.

His genes prepared him many years before.

He planned every move in advance.

And this took the death out of chance.

Many of us are alive because he knew more.

Delavan 11 Mar 12

Condolences may be offered at www.alabamaheritagefh.com

This information was last updated 04/06/2020

Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters

Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list

Return to VHPA web site

Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024


Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association