More detail on this person: Chief Warrant
Officer (CW4 Ret) JOSEPH L. SULLIVAN, JR., age
70 of Little Rock, passed away on March 28, 2014.
Chief Sullivan was the grandson of late Judge John
L. and Hazel Sullivan, and the son of the late
Colonel Joseph L. and Gloria Sullivan. Chief
Sullivan was a 1961 graduate of Catholic High
School and held a Bachelors Degree from UALR
and a Masters Degree from Embry Riddle
Aeronautical University.
Chief Sullivan joined the Army in October 1964 and
upon graduation from Warrant Officer Candidate
Helicopter Flight Training in September 1965
arrived in Viet Nam in November of that year.
Chief Sullivan was initially assigned to the 6th
Aviation Platoon (Airlift) in direct support of
the 5th Special Forces Group. The 6th Airlift
Platoon and other aviation unites were joined
together and formed the 281st Assault Helicopter
Company. The 281st AHC was the first U.S. Army
Helicopter Company organized and trained as a
Special Operations Aviation unit in the Republic
of Viet Nam. The 281st was placed under the
Operational Control of the 5th Special Forces
Group, Nha Trang, RVN. Chief Sullivan's second
assignment in Viet Nam was with the Bravo
Company 229th Aviation Battalion, 1st Cav Division
(airmobile).
Chief Sullivan was a life member of the Vietnam
Helicopter Pilots Association (VHPA), American
Legion. Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and
Disabled American Veterans (DAV). His military
awards include the Air Medal, three awards of
National Defense Service Medal (Viet Nam, Desert
Storm and Enduring Freedom), three awards of the
Army Commendation Medal and others. Chief
Sullivan retired from the Army in June 2003. Chief
Sullivan also had a parallel civilian career with
the State of Arkansas as a Senior Financial
Examiner with the Arkansas Insurance Department.
His loving wife Wilma proceeds him in death,
survivors include his children - Joe Sullivan III
and Deborah, Kim Swaggerty and husband
Shannon and John Sullivan and wife Colleen, all of
Charlotte, NC; Stepson Jameson Dormann of
Atlanta, GA and stepdaughter Kimberly Wilfong
husband Steven and grandson Gavin of Conway,
AR. Two nieces, Dawn Teagle and husband Stan
and grandniece Haileigh of Gainsville, FL, Leigh
Skehan and husband Eddie and grand nephew
Holden of Leesburg, FL and his nieces mother Joan
Sullivan, of Leesburg, FL; two sisters, Kaye
Duncan and her children Michael and Erin of
Orlando, FL, and Barbara Stone and husband Jeff
and daughter Megan and great nephew Barrett of
Magnet Cove and wife and friend Kitty.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m.
Friday, April 4 in the chapel of Griffin Leggett
Healey & Roth, 5800 W. 12th St., Little Rock (501)
661-9111 with Brother James Wilson officiating.
Interment with Military Honors will follow at
Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery. Visitation will
be from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Thursday at the
funeral home. Memorials may be made to
VHPA.org or American Cancer Society.
This information was last updated 02/14/2014
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