DUCHENE EDWARD A

MAJ Edward A. Duchene was a potential VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 06/10/2016 at the age of 85.0
Manhattan, KS
Date of Birth 06/17/1931
Served in the U.S. Air Force
This information was provided by Jim Burns

More detail on this person: Edward Anthony DuChene, 84, of Manhattan died Friday, June 10, 2016 at the Good Shepherd Hospice House in Manhattan.

Edward was born June 17, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois to the late Peter Anthony DuChene and Dorothea DuChene. Edward was a graduate of Vancouver High School in Vancouver, Washington and went on to a long and distinguished career in the United States Air Force.

Ed enlisted in the Air Force in 1951. Shortly after enlisting, he applied for and was accepted into the Aviation Cadet program. After graduating from Pilot Training, he was commissioned as a 2d Lieutenant. Ed accumulated hours piloting a myriad of aircraft to include, the T-6, T-33, F-9F, F-86D, F-102A, HU-16, H-5, H-19, H-21, H-34, and his favorite aircraft, the HH-43B, Husky helicopter in which he accumulated over 1000 flight hours. Ed was awarded the Airmen's Medal for Heroism in 1976 for saving the life of an Enlisted Aircrew member following an in-flight engine failure and subsequent crash of the HH-43 helicopter he was piloting. After he safely egressed from the fiery crash, Ed ran back into the burning aircraft and pulled the injured crew member to safety. Ed also earned the Bronze Star Medal, the Air Medal, and numerous Service Medals and Ribbons. Ed spent a year in Vietnam flying rescue missions and served as a US Advisor to the South Vietnamese Air Force. Edward retired from the Air Force in 1970 as a Major and a rating of Command Pilot. Upon retirement from the Air Force, Ed entered the garment manufacturing industry and worked for companies in Washington State, Iowa, Louisiana, Texas, Colorado, and Kansas.

Ed was an avid golfer, bowler, amateur meteorologist, loving husband, father, and grand-father. Survivors include his wife of sixty-one years Cora Jean DuChene; their daughter, Renee DuChene Huggins and her husband Dr. John Huggins of Grapevine, Texas; their son, Peter Edward DuChene, CMSgt, USAF (Ret) and his wife Jill Henniges-DuChene (USAF veteran), of Norman, Oklahoma. Ed leaves behind four grandchildren, Courtney Huggins of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; Paul Huggins and his wife Ashley Huggins of Irving, Texas; Benjamin Henniges-DuChene of Norman, Oklahoma; and Zachary Henniges-DuChene of Norman, Oklahoma.

At the family's request, there will be no private viewing or visitation.

A memorial service will be held 9:00 a.m. Thursday June 16, 2016 at the Kansas Veterans Cemetery at Fort Riley, 5181 Wildcat Creek Road, Manhattan, Kansas 66503, in the committal shelter in the cemetery, with the Rev. Ben Duerfeldt officiating.

Memorials are suggested to Fisher House Foundation, which provides military families temporary housing close to a loved one during hospitalization for an illness, disease or injury (www.fisherhouse.org) or the Good Shepherd Hospice House (Manhattan, Kansas).

Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.

Online condolences may be left for the family through the funeral home website at www.ymlfuneralhome.com

Burial information: Kansas Veterans Cemetery, Manhattan, KS

This information was last updated 06/16/2016

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Date posted on this site: 08/31/2024