More detail on this person: Jack Larry
Kilcrease passed away at his residence in
Tylertown on Sunday, September 6, 2015,
surrounded by his wife and his three children and
life-long friend Paula Boyd McGinnis. He was born
August 24, 1937, in Tylertown, to the late Fred
George and Georgia Holmes Hinson Kilcrease. In
addition to his parents, Jack is preceded in death
by his sister, Sarah Kilcrease Craft, and his
former wife, Anita Breland Kilcrease.
He entered the United States Army in 1956 retired
after 32 years of service. Kilcrease later served
13 years with the Department of Justice, New
Orleans Field Division. After his retirement,
Kilcrease returned to his beloved hometown and to
the home his grandfather, Con Way Hinson, built in
1904. Kilcrease has been an active and dedicated
life member of The American Legion in Mississippi.
He was instrumental in reactivating the Walthall
County Post 56 of the American Legion in 2003, as
well as Unit 56 of the American Legion.
For his community service efforts, particularly to
honor and support county veterans, Kilcrease was
awarded the Paul Pittman Award in 2011 by the
Walthall County Chamber of Commerce.
He was a Master Mason and member of Tylertown
Lodge #392, Past Worthy Patron of Myra Chapter
#20 of the Eastern Star in Hattiesburg, a Shriner
and a member of Tylertown Baptist Church.
During his military career, Kilcrease served in
all leadership positions at the Company and
Battalion levels, including Platoon Sergeant,
Platoon Leader, Company Commander of Infantry
units, Executive Officer of an Air Cavalry Troop,
all during combat in Vietnam. His most enjoyable
assignment was during his four tours as an
instructor for the Ranger Training Command at Fort
Benning, Georgia.
Kilcrease's gallantry in action in Vietnam
resulted in a direct battlefield commission to
Lieutenant.
Some of his many awards and decorations include
the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star,
three awards of the Purple Heart, 12 awards of the
Air Medal, the ex-POW medal the Combat
Infantryman Badge, Ranger Tab, Master Parachutist
Wings, Pathfinder Badge, Senior Army Aviator
Badge, Presidential Unit Citation, and two awards
of the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm.
Kilcrease flew more than 1200 combat hours and
more than 3,700 total flying hours.
He was a graduate of the United States Army
Command and General Staff College and the
University of New Orleans.
From 1996 to 2000, after being appointed by
Governor M. J. (Mike) Foster, Jr., he served as a
Commissioner of Veterans Affairs in the Department
of Veterans Affairs for the State of Louisiana.
He also was a life member of numerous other
veterans organizations, including the VFW,
Disabled American Veterans, Military Order of the
Purple Heart, United States Army Ranger
Association, World-Wide Army Ranger Federation,
1st Cavalry Division Association, 82nd Airborne
Division Association, the 101st Airborne Division
Association and the National Sojourners, Inc., an
Masonic organization for military personnel and
veterans that he reactivated in Mississippi.
Kilcrease was a former member of the Vietnam
Veterans of America, Special Forces Association,
Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association and Combat
Helicopter Pilots Association.
Jack trained with B Troop, 3-17 Cav at Fort
Benning and was in the formation when the colors
of the 3-17 were cased and those of the 1-9 Cav
were unfurled. He deployed to Vietnam by sea, and
was among the squadron's first combat casualties,
wounded in the "Hospital Fight" in the Ia Drang
Valley that preceded the "We Were Soldiers Once"
battle at LZ X-Ray.
After recovering from his wounds, Jack went on to
serve another tour on the ground in Vietnam, in C
Troop, 2-17 Cav, part of the 101st Airborne
Division. Somewhere along the line, Sergeant
First Class Kilcrease took a battlefield
commission, and he was Captain Jack when he and
I were roommates in flight school at Fort Wolters.
After winning his Army Aviator wings, Jack did one
more tour in Vietnam, serving in A Troop, 3-17 Cav
and later in the 12th Combat Aviation Group as
part of the Army Aviation Element in Headquarters,
II Field Forces Vietnam.
Funeral will be Friday, Sept. 11, at 11 a.m. at
the Tylertown Baptist Church.
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list
Return to VHPA web site
Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association