More detail on this person: My dad retired in
1972 after his last tour in Vietnam. In 1980 My
mom passed away from cancer at the age of 49. In
1981 he had moved down to Arizona and married
Jane McGrath ( nice lady ). My dad passed away in
March of 1986. As for my father's military career.
He joined the Army in 1946 or 47. He was in the
infantry in Korea before the war, working his was
way up to the rank of sergeant. He then attended
Indiana University and was in the ROTC program.
Upon graduation he reentered the active army as a
2nd Lieutenant in the field artillery.He was in
route to Korea for his 2nd tour when the cease
fire went into affect. He was in Korea for 18
months at that time. He was never a pilot in
Korea. After returning to the states he went on to
flight school, first fixed wing and then choppers.
He learned to fly Hueys in 1964. He served his
first tour in Nam from 1965 to 1966. During that
time he was the company commander ( shotgun six
) for the 221st Aviation Company. Dad had a Huey
he was flying get hit with a crossbow bolt into
the tail section. My dad was not one to talk
about Vietnam that much. It was only after I
enlisted that we spoke allot about it. And he was
not a bull shitter. He was never shot down. Dad
served a 2nd tour in Nam from 1970 to 1971. He
was up in Long Ving I can't remember which unit.
Unfortunately dad did have a problem with alcohol.
Some of the things he experienced in Vietnam and
the friends he lost there took a toll on him. He
also was hit hard by how soldiers were treated
back then. Losing my mom at a time when they
were really going to enjoy retirement also hit him
hard. After he married Jane he quit drinking for
about three years. During the last year of his
life alcohol creeped back in and he died of Liver
complications. I was at his side when it happened.
He owned a 1953 Buick with a straight eight. The
car had belonged to my grandfather. I said dad
never bull shitted but he did have a great sense
of humor. He used to say that the rotor blade on a
huey was there to keep the pilot cool because
whenever it stopped turning it really made the
pilot sweat. This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site:
03/10/2024
Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association
From: Daniel Fox
Joseph H. Fox, 57, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant
colonel, died March 19, 1986, at Humana Hospital
Desert Valley. Mr. Fox, of Glendale, was born in
Terre Haute, Ind., and moved to Arizona in 1980
from Minnesota. He was an Army pilot in Vietnam
and received the Bronze Star, Legion of Merit
Award, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry and the
Meritorious Unit Citation. He was a member of St.
Raphael's Catholic Church, American Legion,
retired Officer's Association and the Veterans of
Foreign War. Survivors include his wife, Mary;
daughter, Mary Lynne Baker; son, Daniel;
stepchildren, Suzanne Stobo, Brian McGrath, Sean
McGrath, Harold McGrath and Edward McGrath; a
brother; and 14 grandchildren. Sunland Mortuary,
Sun City, made arrangements.