More detail on this person: Major (retired) James Gregory Mikesell was born to Edwin Eckhardt and Lucia Bonnano Mikesell on February 2, 1939 in Lima, Ohio and passed away into eternal life on August 12, 2021 at home, surrounded by his loved ones. He is survived by his beloved wife, Kil Cha (Aja) of 57 years; daughter, Cari Maria and her husband, Colonel (retired) Matthew Tedesco and their children, Joseph Edwin, Natalie Elizabeth and Christopher Brian; son, James Gregory II and his wife, Rebecca Kaitlin and son, Colby Jacob. Also surviving him is his youngest brother, Colin Mikesell of Lima, Ohio; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; and, of course, beloved former students of Churchill High School. Major Mikesell graduated from Lima Central Catholic High School in 1958 and was a four-year football letterman. He graduated with honors from the University of Nebraska in 1975. He was a diehard "Husker" fan until the very end. He served as a Marine from 1959 to 1963 and as an Airborne Infantry Officer and an Army aviator (Huey pilot) from 1963-1983. After his retirement from the Army, he was appointed Senior Army Instructor/Head Coach of the Charger Battalion JROTC at Winston Churchill High School until his second retirement in 2002. During his tenure at Churchill, his Armed Drill Team, the Black Watch, won the National Championship four times (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000) and was National Champion Runner-up in 1997 and 2001. His female Unarmed Drill Team, the Queen's Guard, was National Champion Runner-up three times. He was most proud of his ROTC scholarships and appointments to the Service Academies. In his 16 years at Churchill, he nominated and saw accepted 22 cadets to the United States Military Academy at West Point, 4 to the United States Naval Academy, and 4 to the United States Air Force Academy. He also assisted 106 Churchill Cadets in obtaining ROTC scholarships to institutions of higher learning. Major Mikesell served two combat tours in Vietnam. In 1966-1967 as an Infantry Platoon leader and a company commander, and a second tour as an Assault Helicopter Platoon Commander and Air Mission Commander. He earned many awards for valor and two purple hearts for being wounded in 1966. After his retirement from Churchill, he served on the Board of Directors of the Military Order of the Purple Heart-chapter 1836, serving as the ROTC awards coordinator. The family will receive friends beginning at 5:00 PM on Sunday, August 29, 2021 at Porter Loring Mortuary North with a Rosary to be recited at 6:00 PM. A Service will be held at 9:30 AM on Monday, August 30, 2021 at Porter Loring Mortuary North. Interment with Military Honors will follow in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association. You are invited to view the Livestream of Service and to sign the Guestbook at www.porterloring.com. Published by Express-News on Aug. 22, 2021.
Burial information: Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, TX
This information was last updated 08/30/2021
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