More detail on this person: Colonel Cornelius Francis McGillicuddy Jr., U.S. Army, Retired died Saturday, July 14, 2018 at Fort Walton Hospital in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. He was 86 years old. Cornelius, or best known as Neil to family and friends, was born January 16, 1932 in Boston, Massachusetts to Cornelius Francis McGillicuddy Sr. and Margaret McGillicuddy (nee O'Connor). Neil was their second son and number two of six children. He grew up in a loving home, worked as a paperboy, was an altar boy in the Catholic Church, graduated from Mission High School in 1949 and enlisted in the United States Army on February 25, 1952. Colonel McGillicuddy was singled out for exceptional performance during basic military training and was selected for Officer Candidate School where he earned his commission in March 1953. His first assignment was to Korea where he served for two years. Ultimately, Neil was a master parachutist, a senior aviator and completed two tours of duty in Vietnam from 1966-1967 and 1971-1972, where he served as an Aviation Company Commander and Aviation Battalion Commander respectively. He was a graduate of the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Command and General Staff College, Fixed Wing Aviator Course, Rotary Wing Qualification Course and the Naval War College and he was inducted into the Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame. He was a highly decorated combat veteran and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters and 38 Air Medals with multiple citations for gallantry in action. Colonel McGillicuddy retired from the U.S. Army in March 1983 while assigned to Fort Rucker AL as the Program Manager for the Army's newest helicopter the Black Hawk. Colonel McGillicuddy earned a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a Masters Degree in International Affairs from Georgetown University. After his successful 31 years serving our nation, Neil went to work for Vinnell Corporation in Saudi Arabia from 1984 to 1987. Neil married Betty Jean Wheeler in 1987 and retired to Niceville, Florida. Neil was a scratch golfer with seven holes-in-one, he volunteered for the Florida State Golf Association and worked at Jackson-Hewitt during tax season. Neil was eternally optimistic and was always full of life and energy. He was consistently upbeat and always had a story to tell. Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife, Betty McGillicuddy of Niceville, FL and his children: Neil and Liz McGillicuddy III of Cheney, WA; Margaret McGillicuddy of Columbus, GA; Kathy and Joe Rhone of Phenix City, AL; Paul and Mary Jo McGillicuddy of Ewa Beach, HI; his grandchildren Nicole Hunt (Ben), Leah Johnson, Tim McGillicuddy, Jake McGillicuddy, Rory Johnson, and Emma McGillicuddy; his great-grandson, Parker Hunt; and his brothers and sisters Paul McGillicuddy, Robert McGillicuddy, Mary Whitney, Kevin McGillicuddy and Irene Desharnais. Colonel McGillicuddy will be cremated and his interment at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. with Full Military Honors will be at a later date. In lieu of flowers - please make donations to Christ Our Redeemer Catholic Church at 1028 White Point Road, Niceville, FL 32578. Russ Layton's notes: Neil McGillicuddy wrote 12/30/2003: Joe Starker was the CO of the 11th CAB, the parent unit of the 128th from May 1966 to May 1967. He did all his combat flying in a UH-ID/H from the 128th.He also flew several combat assaults with the Tomahawks as a peter pilot even though he was a highly qualified and skilled master aviator. He was a great person and a close personal friend. He died in 1974 in San Antonio in an auto accident. He was a Brigadier General, a Silver Star awardee and forever proud to have been associated with the Tomahawks. Hal Van Meter was first Red Dog 3 Lima the liaison officer between the 11th CAB and the Big Red One from August 1966 till March 1967. He was Tomahawk 3 from March 1967 until rotation in July 1967. Last seen playing tennis in his back yard in Buena Vista Ga. Hank Small who retired as a Major General was the Witch Doctor from about June 1966 until he replaced Jim Patterson as CO of the116th Hornets in Dec 1966. John Casey was Tomahawk 6 from June 1966 until early Jan 1967. He went to Saigon to be SGS HQ USARV. He was wounded on his second tour was promoted to BG and retired to the Tampa area. Patterson, Holleran and Owens were all assigned to the 11th CAB. When they could, they would fly missions with the 128th. About myself, I was Tomahawk 6 from Feb 1967 until June 1967. I was to replace John Casey when he left but was held at 11th CAB {I was Red Dog 3} until my replacement, Jim Patterson, came back from the states where he had been called to be awarded the DSC. So John Creuder assumed temporary command of the 128th until I got loose in Feb 1967. I was replaced in June 1967 by Major Larry Miller who came from the S3 section of the 11th CAB. I have pictures. Gen Depuy was the CG of the Big Red One {Danger 77} and a great friend and of the Tomahawks. The 11th Cab had 3 AHCs. The 173rd Robin Hoods, 162nd Vultures and the 128th Tomahawks. Each AHC was oriented to a Brigade of the Big Red One. The Tomahawks were aligned with the 2nd Brigade whose base camp was Dian. Where the 2nd Brigade went, so went the Tomahawks. Some great stories came out of this relationship. For example the commander of the 2nd Brigade from Feb 67 to June 67 was Col. Alexander Haig, who went on to be the Secretary of State. His S-3 was George Jowan who just retired as the 4 star commander of Europe and NATO. Both are lifelong friends of the Tomahawks and if my memory serves we anointed them both as 'Honorary Tomahawks. McGILLICUDDY, Col. Cornelius Francis, Jr. Ret. Col. US Army Colonel (Ret) Cornelius Francis McGillicuddy Jr., U.S. Army, Retired died Saturday, July 14, 2018 at Fort Walton Hospital in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. He was 86 years old. Cornelius, or best known as Neil to family and friends, was born January 16, 1932 in Boston, Massachusetts to Cornelius Francis McGillicuddy Sr. and Margaret McGillicuddy (nee O'Connor). Neil was their second son and number two of six children. He grew up in a loving home, worked as a paperboy, was an altar boy in the Catholic Church, graduated from Mission High School in 1949 and enlisted in the United States Army on February 25, 1952. Colonel McGillicuddy was singled out for exceptional performance during basic military training and was selected for Officer Candidate School where he earned his commission in March 1953. His first assignment was to Korea where he served for two years. Ultimately, Neil was a master parachutist, a senior aviator and completed two tours of duty in Vietnam from 1966-1967 and 1971-1972, where he served as an Aviation Company Commander and Aviation Battalion Commander respectively. He was a graduate of the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Command and General Staff College, Fixed Wing Aviator Course, Rotary Wing Qualification Course and the Naval War College and he was inducted into the Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame. He was a highly decorated combat veteran and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters and 38 Air Medals with multiple citations for gallantry in action. Colonel McGillicuddy retired from the U.S. Army in March 1983 while assigned to Fort Rucker AL as the Program Manager for the Army's newest helicopter the Black Hawk. Colonel McGillicuddy earned a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a Masters Degree in International Affairs from Georgetown University. After his successful 31 years serving our nation, Neil went to work for Vinnell Corporation in Saudi Arabia from 1984 to 1987. Neil married Betty Jean Wheeler in 1987 and retired to Niceville, Florida. Neil was a scratch golfer with seven holes-in-one, he volunteered for the Florida State Golf Association and worked at Jackson-Hewitt during tax season. Neil was eternally optimistic and was always full of life and energy. He was consistently upbeat and always had a story to tell. Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife, Betty McGillicuddy of Niceville, FL and his children: Neil and Liz McGillicuddy III of Cheney, WA; Margaret McGillicuddy of Columbus, GA; Kathy and Joe Rhone of Phenix City, AL; Paul and Mary Jo McGillicuddy of Ewa Beach, HI; his grandchildren Nicole Hunt (Ben), Leah Johnson, Tim McGillicuddy, Jake McGillicuddy, Rory Johnson, and Emma McGillicuddy; his great-grandson, Parker Hunt; and his brothers and sisters Paul McGillicuddy, Robert McGillicuddy, Mary Whitney, Kevin McGillicuddy and Irene Desharnais. Colonel McGillicuddy will be cremated and his interment at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. with Full Military Honors will be at a later date. In lieu of flowers - please make donations to Christ Our Redeemer Catholic Church at 1028 White Point Road, Niceville, FL 32578.
Burial information: Arlington National Cemetery
This information was last updated 08/05/2018
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