More detail on this person: Retired US Army Chief Warrant Officer W4 John G. Daneker of
Lexington, KY, died Sep 27, 2011. He was 82 at the time.
Born in White Haven, PA and attended and graduated from the White Haven High School, Class of
1948. John entered the US Army in May 1950 and was assigned to Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD,
where he attended Explosive Ordinance Disposal School. He was assigned to Korea in January, 1951
until December, 1953. He served with the 14th EOD Squad in Northeast Korea and later with the 24th
EOD Control Detachment. During 1956 he entered the US Army Helicopter Flight Training School at FT
Rucker, AL. After graduating he was assigned to the 8th Helicopter Company at FT Bragg, NC, to fly
the H-21 helicopter. In 1959 he was assigned to Schofield Barracks, HI, to fly the H-21 with the 6th
Helicopter Company. In February, 1962 he was reassigned to the 93rd Helicopter Company in Danang,
South Vietnam and later to the 8th Helicopter Company located at Qui Nhon, Vietnam.
During March 1963, John returned to FT Benning, GA, and was assigned to the first Chinook (CH47)
Battalion of the activated 11th Air Assault Division. After qualifying in the Chinook he spent
considerable time at Boeing Vertol and the New Cumberland Army Depot performing production flight
tests and acceptance test flights of the Chinook for the Army. From 1965 through 1966, John served
as an Instructor and Flight Standardization pilot with the 177th at FT Benning, GA, training Chinook
Pilots and compiling Chinook companies for deployment to Vietnam. During 1967, he served again in
Vietnam with the 179th Chinook Company at Pleiku. In 1968, John was assigned to the US Army
Aviation Test Board at FT Rucker, AL, as the Safety Officer and Test Pilot. In 1969, he was
selected by the Warrant Officer Branch to write and teach the Safety Portion of the newly
established Warrant Officer Advanced and Intermediate courses. During 1971 and 1972, he was
selected and served in the Office of the Assistant Commandant at the Army Aviation Center. In 1973,
John was assigned to Iran and served with the Technical Assistance Field Team. There he monitored
the Iranian Army Flight Training Program and conducted Flight Standardization Checks of the Bell
International Pilots and the student end of the phase and final check rides. In 1974, he returned
to FT Rucker and was assigned to the Combat Development Command. He retired June 30, 1976.
In addition to his military career, John was also a NCAA Basketball and Football referee. He was the
referee in the 1961 Hula Bowl Game in Hawaii and was selected into the Atlantic Coast Conference as
a basketball referee in 1957. He was also an International Basketball Referee and traveled to
numerous countries representing the United States and U.S. State Department. His awards and
decorations include the US Master Army Aviator Badge; Senior Explosive Ordinance Disposal Badger;
Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster; Air Medals; Accommodation Medals, Good Conduct Medal; Imperial
Iranian Army Aviator Wings; and two Boeing Vertol Rescue Awards for daring night med-evac missions
in Vietnam. On July 4, 2005, John was commissioned a Kentucky Colonel for contributions to the
community.
John is survived by his wife Vivienne; three sons, two daughters, two stepsons, nine grandchildren,
two step grandchildren and three great grandchildren, one brother and numerous aunts, uncles,
cousins and his first wife, Roberta in AL. John was a proud Army veteran who loved his many friends
that he associated with along the way here and abroad. He lived a happy, full life and loved his
family dearly. He will live forever on in our hearts. Contributions and other memorials to Hospice
of the Blue Grass, 2312 Alexandria Dr., Lexington, KY 40504 or the Second Presbyterian Church, East
Main Street, Lexington, KY, 40507.
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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