More detail on this person: WILLIAMSBURG -
Colonel Kenneth D. Mertel, Infantry, US Army
Retired, 82, died at home in Williamsburg,
Virginia on 11 Oct 06. A veteran of 33 years in
the US Army, Ken retired in 1975. Upon retirement,
he devoted 20 years of public service to the Coast
Guard Auxiliary, serving at every level from
flotilla to national. He also served one year in
the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1941. Enlisting
in the Army in June 42, he graduated from Infantry
OCS in 45 as a Second Lieutenant. Winning a
Regular Army Commission in 46, he served two
tours as a combat Infantry rifle company
commander in Korea in 1952-53. During three
Vietnam tours, Ken commanded both Infantry and
Aviation units at battalion, group and brigade
level. Two tours were with the 1st Air Cavalry
Division. Ken was a graduate of Mountainburg High
School in Arkansas, the University of Georgia and
Boston University. His military education included
Ranger, Airborne, Fixed and Rotary Wing courses
as well as the Command and General Staff College
and the Army War College. He was awarded a
Silver Star, two Distinguished Flying Crosses,
five Legions of Merit, five Bronze Stars, and
fifty Air Medals. Born in Bennett, Colorado in
1924 to Alonzo and Cora Mertel, Ken is survived by
his faithful poodle, Bo; his daughter Maria
Cochrane and husband Michael and their sons
Graham and Wes Cochrane. He was married to the
late Molli Mertel. Memorial Services will be
conducted Monday, 23 October at 11 am at
Patriots Colony Assisted Living in Williamsburg by
Chaplain Janna Roche and Tuesday, 24 October at
11 am at St. John's Episcopal Church in Hampton
by Ken's niece, the Reverend Darby Oliver Everhard
of Cincinnati. Committal with military honors in
the adjacent cemetery will follow Tuesday's
service. A catered reception will be held in St.
John's Parish Hall. Ken deeply loved his dogs and
his family. His country and the US Army were close
to his heart. He wanted to be remembered as a
man of courage, a warrior. His motto was DRIVE
ON -ALL THE WAY. Memorials may be sent to
Heritage Humane Society, 430 Waller Miller Road,
Williamsburg, VA 23185.
Published in the Daily Press on 10/22/2006.
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