More detail on this person: Lt. Colonel Henry"
Hank" P. Capozzi passed away after a long bout
with Cancer, Saturday, February 28, 2015. He was
87 years of age.
Capozzi was a lifelong Army officer and Dust Off
Air Ambulance Helicopter Pilot who served bravely
in Korea, and also completed two tours in Vietnam.
He served as an Operations Officer and an
Instructor Pilot 1957 to 1959. Capozzi hand picked
his aircrew for the 82nd Medical Detachment at Soc
Trang Army Air Field, serving as it's Commander
from July 1964 through July 1965. Under his
leadership the 82nd received Presidential Unit
Citations, a Valorous Unit Award along with other
medals of recognition. Hank was among the original
H13, Sioux "Bubble Helicopter" pilots, which later
led to his passion in founding "The SoloPilots
Organization". Along with his fellow SoloPilots,
this small elite group remained stead fast in
recognizing the pilots who not only flew solo, but
had to be their own mechanic, and their own medic,
responsible for emergency helicopter evacuations
that lead to saving 1000's of wounded on the
battlefield and littering them back to safety.
Under Capozzi's leadership as President of the
SoloPilots, the Organization was able to have
these hero's recognized, and a monument
dedicated at the US Army Aviation Museum.
His dedication, bravery and savvy flying skills
were his biggest virtues. He was highly decorated
throughout his career, respectfully declining The
Purple Heart commendation following what he
deemed to be a minor injury during combat. " I was
just doing my job, that is not what the Purple
Heart is for....." He explained.
Lt Col Capozzi is survived, and will be greatly
missed, by his 3 children, and his Ex wife and
partner Ella.
Friends and colleagues are invited to join the
family as we toast and remember Hank in a casual
reception at 3 pm on Thursday, March 5 at The
Towers at 1 Park Lane in San Antonio.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to The
SoloPilots Organization.
Published in Express-News on Mar. 4, 2015
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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