More detail on this person: LTC (Ret) John
Berrien Whitehead, III April 28, 1942-August 10,
2011
Columbus, Georgia- LTC (Ret) John Berrien
Whitehead III, age 69, resident of Columbus,
passed away at his residence on Wednesday,
August 10, 2011. Memorial services will be held at
the Chapel of Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 4071 Macon
Road, Columbus on Sunday, August 14, 2011 at 2
p.m. LTC Whitehead, son of the late John Berrien
Whitehead, Jr., was born April 28, 1942 in
Douglas, GA. He served in the U.S. Army and
retired after 20 years of honorable service.
During his military tenure, he served two tours of
Vietnam. He was a helicopter pilot and was
awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for a
heroic act of valentry. In addition he was awarded
the Silver Star; Distinguished Flying Cross;
Bronze Star; Legion of Merit; and Meritorious
Service Medal; the Army Air Medal; the Vietnam
Service Medal; and the Vietnamese Class of
Gallantry. LTC Whitehead is survived by his wife,
Anne Whitehead of Columbus; one brother, Charles
Whitehead of Marietta, GA; one sister, Jane
Cochran of Marietta, GA; two daughters, Courtney
W. Hudson and Caroline Whitehead; three sons,
Mike Whitehead, Jeff Whitehead, and David
Whitehead; six grandchildren, Jack, Pete, Will,
John and Henry Whitehead, and Jacob Solt; other
relatives and friends.
Condolences may be offered at
www.shcolumbus.com
Published in Columbus Ledger-Enquirer on August
12, 2011.
LTC (Ret) John Berrien Whitehead III, age 69,
resident of Columbus, passed away at his
residence in Columbus GA on Wednesday, August
10, 2011. LTC Whitehead, son of the late John
Berrien Whitehead, Jr., was born April 28, 1942
in Douglas, GA. He graduated with Flight Class
67-22 and first went to Vietnam in 1968-69 with
the OH-6A NETT Team. He returned to Vietnam in
1971-72 where he flew with A Troop 7/1st Cav, D
Co. 229th Avn Bn and F Troop/9th Cav of the 3rd
Bde 1st Cavalry Division His awards were the
Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star;
Distinguished Flying Cross; Bronze Star,
Presidential Unit Citation, Legion of Merit;
Meritorious Service Medal and numerous Air
Medals. John will remain a legend to those of us
who flew in the III Corps area during the Easter
Offensive of 1972, when in April, he and Dave
Ripley flew OH 6s from D-229 to rescue the Loc
Ninh MACV advisors who were escaping and
evading towards An Loc. In the chaos of finding
and bringing them out, 3 American Advisors, 4
ARVN, John and his gunner SGT Waite flew out
under heavy ground fire in Loach 243. This is the
only account I have ever found as VHPA historian
of 9 souls on board an OH-6 and it still could
fly. John was awarded the DSC for this action and
a life time of gratitude from Marv Zumwalt one of
the three MACV advisors in the back. John will be
buried in Arlington National Cemetery in September
2011. Check the Arlington National Cemetery
website for phone number that will provide the
exact date.
From: Mike Sloniker
Burial information: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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