More detail on this person: Frederick Giles DECEMBER 18, 1948 - AUGUST 7, 2021 Obituary of Frederick Giles On Saturday, August 7, 2021, Frederick R. Giles met his Savior face to face. Born in Macon, GA on December 18, 1948, "Papa Fred," as he is affectionately known by his grandchildren, was a graduate of Lanier High School for Boys. Fred was a proud trumpet player in the Lanier Sugar Bear Marching Band. During high school he was employed by the Macon Telegraph and News. He spent many hours on his bike delivering his paper route; and by his senior year, he had transitioned from paperboy to the circulation department supervising other newspaper boys and routes. In his second year at Macon Junior College, Fred volunteered for the Warrant Officer Flight Training Program which trained helicopter pilots to fly in Vietnam. Primary Helicopter Flight School training was received at Fort Wolters, Texas from September 1969 to March 1970. Advanced Flight Training was completed with the U.S. Army Aviation School at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Fred graduated with class 70-19 on July 14, 1970. He deployed to Vietnam from August 1970 to August 1971, serving with the 61st Assault Helicopter Company, 173rd Aviation Battalion stationed in An Son, Vietnam at Lane Army Heliport - Star Blazers. His call sign was Lucky Star 14. After Vietnam, Fred would continue his military career as an Instructor Pilot. He was rated in the Bell UH-1 and Bell AH-1G Cobra attack helicopters. His active-duty stations include Hunter Army Airfield, Savanah, GA as an instructor pilot training Vietnamese pilots to fly; Schofield Barracks, Hawaii with the 3rd SQD of the 4th CAV; Fort Bragg, NC with the 1st SQD of the 17th CAV, 82nd Airborne Division; and Katterbach in Ansbach, Germany with B Company, 501st Aviation Battalion. During his service in Vietnam, he was awarded three Air Medals and the Bronze Star. Upon leaving active duty in Germany, he was awarded the Army Meritorious Service Medal. Additionally, he held the Senior Army Aviator Badge. Although Fred was happy with his military service and the adventures and challenges it presented, he felt that God was calling him to the ministry. He served for one year as a civilian assistant pastor in a church outside of Spangdahlem Air Force Base in Germany that was primarily focused on reaching American military and their families. In 1984 he enrolled in Bible college in Crown Point, Indiana. During his time in Bible college, Fred flew Hueys in the Army Reserves with the 305th Aviation Company out of NAS Glenview just north of Chicago. He spent Saturdays in south Chicago striving to reach those who were released from Cook County Jail, most of whom were gang members. On Sundays, he often preached at the Cook County Jail reaching the lost for Christ. He later directed a military ministry in Fayetteville, NC, serving men and women in the 82nd Airborne Division. On November 24, 1967, Fred went on his first date with his bride of almost 52 years, Linda Ruth Kozee. Fred and Linda have three children, Amanda Moore (David) of Taylors, SC; Matthew Giles (Jennifer Stephens) of Stafford, Virginia; and Mark Giles (Sarah Kennedy) of Atlanta, GA; and eleven precious grandchildren. Fred is preceded in death by his father, Fred Roy Giles; brother, Charles Kenneth Giles; and grand-daughter, Madelyn Grace Giles. Fred is survived by his mother, Shirley Grant Giles; his sister, Gloria Giles Hood; and brother, Ron Giles (Lisa) - all of his hometown, Macon, GA. In a life marked by honorable service to others in the military and in ministry, Fred encountered many difficult circumstances but managed to keep his sense of humor alive. His most difficult battle, perhaps, came as a result of being diagnosed with kidney disease in 2000. His dream of resuming helicopter instructor pilot training evaporated, and the uncertainty of knowing whether he would live to see any grandchildren or what the next years would bring was overwhelming. In the last 21 years, God was gracious in allowing Fred extra time to see his children marry and his grandchildren be born. Through years of dialysis, a transplant, and these final months of sickness, God directed every step of the way. Thank you to Blake Walker and his family, the Nashville VA doctors and staff, and the Vanderbilt University Medical Center for the kidney transplant and extra years it provided. "As thy days, so shall thy strength be." In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Army Aviation Heritage Foundation and Museum, Inc. at 506 Speedway Blvd, Hampton, GA 30228, (770)897-0444, https://armyav.org.
This information was last updated 10/29/2021
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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