More detail on this person: Lt. Colonel John Latta Law, Jr., U. S. Army (Ret.), an army pilot, died unexpectedly on March 5, 2020 at the age of 75 in Tryon, N.C. John was born on June 24, 1944 in Gaffney, S.C. He attended Columbia, S.C. Schools graduating from Dreher High School in 1962. He then attended The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina where he was a member of the Summerall Guards and was graduated in 1966 with a B.A. History. John was trained as an Army helicopter pilot at Fort Rucker, Alabama. His army service spanned 1967-1973, serving in Vietnam from 1971-1972 as a CH-54 SkyCrane pilot. His military awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Ribbon. the Army Service Ribbon, Master Army Aviator Badge, Republic of Vietnam Service Medal, Expert pistol, and several others. After Vietnam he served as an officer of S. C. National Bank from 1973 to 1983 in the international division. He then returned to duty as an officer in the S. C. Army National Guard at McEntire Joint National Guard Base from 1974 until his retirement in 2004. He was Commander of Company A, 51 Aviation Battalion in 1988. Not ready to give up flying yet, he worked for Providence Health Hospital in Columbia, S. C. in the air ambulance service until 2006. John loved sailing, second only to his love of flying. He flew gliders and played golf whenever he could. He loved the mountains, to where he retired in 2016 in Tryon, N.C. John was central to the successes of the Save Hwy. 108 and Hwy 108 Scenic Byway Projects. His high principles, philosophies, love, and achievements live on in the hearts of all he touched. He will be sorely missed. John is survived by his wife, Claudia Lucy Law from Tryon; his sons and daughters-in-law, Stephen and Carrie Law of Spartanburg, S.C.; McIver and Stacey Law of Greenville, S.C.; three grandchildren, Clay, Owen, and Eloise; his stepdaughters, Lauren Smith of Seattle, Wash. and Shelley Smith of Brooklyn, N.Y.;; his sister and brother-in-law, Florence Law Attridge and Byron Attridge of Atlanta, Ga.; his nieces, Lisa Attridge Songy of Atlanta and Anne Attridge Utt of Raleigh, N.C.; his nephew Byron Attridge Jr.; his former wife and lifelong friend, Nancy Law of Columbia, S.C. John was predeceased by his parents, John Latta and Florence Elliott Moore Law, and sister, Sally Law Latham. A funeral with full military honors will be held at McFarland Funeral Chapel in Tryon, N.C. at 2 p.m. on March 10, 2020 conducted by the Polk County Veterans Memorial Honor Guard. A celebration of life will follow the service at the home, 245 Pacolet Ridge Lane, Tryon. In honor of his life of service, John will be buried at The Citadel Columbarium with full honors, to be announced at a later date, thereby allowing long-distance family members to attend. An online guest register is available at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com McFarland Funeral Chapel & Crematory, Tryon, North Carolina. Published online by The Citadel Alumni Association March 10, 2020. While a cadet at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, Mr. Law was a member of Golf Company of the Second Battalion. He held cadet rank of Private during his tenure at The Citadel. He was graduated in May 1966 with a bachelor of arts degree in History. He was an Army contract cadet and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U. S. Army in May 1966. He attended The Citadel from his home town of Columbia, S.C. He was a member of several school organizations including the Episcopal Choir, the Canterbury Club, the Bond Volunteers, the Summerall Guards, the Sailing Team, and the History Club. He is missed and mourned by his classmates. (Source: The 1966 Citadel SPHINX (yearbook), q.v. "John Latta Law, Jr.," pages 96 & 392 and the Citadel Alumni Association (CAA) online directory accessed March 11, 2020.)
Burial information: The Citadel Columbarium , Charleston, SC
This information was last updated 04/13/2020
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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