More detail on this person: Colonel Gary E.
DeKay, WORWAC 66-21, passed away on March
25th 2016 in Palm Coast, Florida. A Service of
Remembrance was held at the Craig Flagler Palms
Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens, 511 Old Kings
Road South, Palm Coast, FL. at 4 PM on March
31st.Born in Utica, New York, November 11, 1946,
COL DeKay served his country for 46 1/2 years
including over 35 years as a member of the US
Army and subsequently as a civilian working for
the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He served two tours of
duty in Vietnam, 1967-68 with B Company, 227th
AHB, 1st Cav Div. While with the 227th, and
after just 4 months in country and with no prior
maintenance experience , was tasked by the
Company Commander to command the Aviation
Maintenance Platoon and become the Company
Test Pilot. During the 2 ½ months he served as
Maintenance Officer, while awaiting
school-trained AMO, then WO1 DeKay oversaw the
transition of B Company from the UH-1D to the
UH-1H Huey. Following his first tour of duty in
Vietnam, CW2 DeKay was selected for and
commissioned a 1st LT in 1969. He returned to
RVN in 1970-71 to serve with the 114th AHC, 335th
AHC, and 214th CAB. He left active duty in 1973
where he served in a variety of aviation
assignments in the Alabama National Guard and
Army Reserve and as an Instrument Instructor,
Instrument Flight Examiner, Standardization
Instructor Pilot, and Night Vision Goggle
Instructor Pilot.. In 1995 he was promoted to the
rank of Colonel, and was assigned as the Crisis
Action Center Director, US Southern Command.
He retired in April 2001 with over 35 years
service. He served an additonal 11 years for the
Joint Chiefs of Staff with duty at US Southern
Command retiring again in 2012. Gary had
accumulated nearly 9,000 flying hours. His
awards and decorations include: Master Aviator
Badge, Air Medal w/23 OLCs, Bronze Star w/1
OLC, Meritorious Service Medal and the Defense
Superior Service Medal.
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 05/13/2023
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