More detail on this person: Killed in a
helicopter crash as he was installing a major
power transmission line. This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site:
10/23/2024
Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association
Washington State - John Jack J. Cooley, III, 57,
died Tuesday August 17, 2004 in Mead,
Washington from injuries suffered in a helicopter
accident. Mr. Cooley was a native of Savannah. He
attended Blessed Sacrament School and was a
1965 graduate of Benedictine Military School. In
1966, Jack joined the US. Army and was asked. Do
you want to fly? He said yes, later telling
friends that, at the time, he thought it would be
safer in the air than on the ground. He trained as
a helicopter pilot and served with B Company, 25th
Aviation Battalion, 24th Infantry in Vietnam from
1966 to 1969 as a warrant officer. He piloted
gunships and emerged a decorated Veteran,
earning the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze
Star and several air medals. After the leaving the
service, he flew the Amazon Basin for an oil
exploration company. He also worked the Gulf of
Mexico for another oil company and lived on
production platforms just large enough for 150
people and three helicopters. Then he moved to
Saudi Arabia where he worked primarily in the
Persian Gulf. He spent two years flying for the
U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land
Management in northern California. In 1979 he was
hired by Bonneville Power Administration and flew
for BPA s transmission design organization. He
transported staff to support the survey section of
the Garrison-Taft line in the early 80 s. He flew
helicopter line patrol for the Spokane Region
which includes Washington, northern Idaho and
Western Montana. During his years at BPA he won
a number of commendations including awards,
quality step increases and letters of appreciation
for his excellent service. At the time of the
accident he was piloting one of BPA s helicopters
doing support work on the Grand Coulee-Bell
transmission line. He and his wife settled in
Cheney, Washington in 1983 with their cat, dogs
and horses. He loved telling stories and
entertaining friends and family. Walleye fishing
and hun ting were among his favorite activities.
His passion, though, was his wife and the years
they shared. His wife of 28 years, Mary Anne MAC
Corda Cooley, sisters and brothers-in-law, Grace
and Jay Scholfield of Atlanta, GA, Nancy and Jay
Smith of Savannah, GA and nephews, Christopher
Smith of Savannah and Kevin and Logan Scholfield
of Atlanta, and numerous relatives and friends
survives him. His parents, Jack and Catharine
Cooley, preceded him in death. There will be a
gathering of friends and family at the Corda s
family ranch in Novato, California on September
5th, 2004 to celebrate the life of this special
man who will be missed by so many. There will also
be a memorial in Savannah on October 9th, 2004 at
the Tybee Island Memorial Park for friends and
relatives. Memorial contributions may be made to
the charity of your choice. Savannah Morning News,
August 29, 2004 Please sign our Obituary
Guestbook at www.savannahnow.com
Published in Savannah Morning News from Aug. 28
to Aug. 29, 2004
Below from: Neill McDonald
John "Jack" Cooley died 17 August 2004 in a
helicopter crash
Oh no, oh no_please not Jack. I spoke with him a
few years ago, and it hurt a bit because he didn't
remember me. Jack was a good guy. One of the
few I had searched for since getting out, just to
say thanks for bringing me back alive, time after
time. Jack Cooley (although he now goes by John. I
think "Jack" is appropriate considering how much
he invested in Jack Daniels) has a few notable
entries in my memoirs. At the top of the list, his
insistence, after a hairy mission, to join him at
the Officers Club. He was already pretty hammered
when he came to the crew chief hooch and ordered
us to accompany him to get a drink at the O Club.
Well we made it through the front door but that
was about it. A Major said he didn't recognize us
and Jack stepped up to say we were with him. It
just went down hill from there. It took three of
us to pull Jack off this hysterical Major
(probably from HQ) and drag him back to his hooch.
When we got to Jacks place, Mr. Banner (I think)
had a Donut Dolly on his lap and to say the least,
it was real awkward. We invited Jack to finish off
the night in the crew chief hooch, but Jack had
just been kicked out of the O Club, and he wasn't
about to get kicked out of his own place. There
was the obligatory yelling and pushing and
somewhere in there, Jacks knees just gave out.
With one of us on each arm and each leg, we
dragged him out the door, figuring we could hide
our good friend in our hooch until we were all
cooled off a bit. In trying to get across one of
the drainage ditches, the two guys holding Jacks
arms jumped over the dip, without coordinating
this maneuver with the guys holding his legs. We
lost Jack mid leap, and he ended up head first in
the ditch. Talk about your bad day. And of course,
all this commotion is happening right outside the
Commanding Officers quarters, who has been
rousted from his sleep by the loud cursing and
panicked conversations on how to get Jack out of
there, pronto. Luckily, it was real dark, and
someone had the good sense to tell the C.O. one of
our "friends" had too much to drink, and we were
just trying to get him to bed. The Old Man
muttered a few indirect comments as he walked
away, not bothering to identify our precious
cargo. When Jack woke up the next morning, he
grumbled about a terrible hang over, and shuffled
off to take a shower. I will miss Jack dearly.
When Jack and Bo were flying 440, the "Be-Bop"
(as Captain Reynolds used to call it) was always
cranked up loud on the headsets. I met many fine
people on my tour, and Jack was one of the best.
He will always fill an important part of my life.
Although he would prefer that I not salute him,
please know Jack, that I offer it from the heart,
as a token of respect and admiration for a fallen
brother. My condolences to the Family, who I'm
sure miss him greatly.
From: Todd Frye, We are both on the
Diamondhead Crew Chief page leaning. against 440
somewhere in the boonies.