SULLENBERGER LOUIS E

MAJ Louis "Lou" E. Sullenberger was a VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 07/28/2012 at the age of 76.4
Valrico, FL
Flight Classes 60-3FW and 60-3QC
Date of Birth 02/15/1936
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with 2 BDE 4 INF in 67, IFFV in 67-68, AFAT 1 in 70-71
This information was provided by Bob Catron

More detail on this person: Louis Edward Sullenberger, Jr. 15 February 1936 - 28 July 2012: Born in San Diego, CA 1936. Lou was a military brat who had lived in California, Washington, Utah, Arizona, Kansas, Texas (2), Hawaii, Arkansas, Germany, France and New York before he attended the Academy. In 1954, he enlisted in the USAF, attended the USMA Prep School at Stewart AFB, and entered the Academy with the Class of 1959. Lou's four years at West Point presented the greatest challenge in his life and he believed it provided the foundation of his core beliefs for the rest of his life. It represents his place in the Long Grey Line of graduates. After graduation, Lou married Judith A. Lindsay, of Glenside, PA, his true love, best friend, and companion through all these years.

After Infantry Basic Course and Airborne school, Lou went through flight training at Fort Rucker, AL. Upon graduation, he remained at the Army Aviation Center as a fixed-wing instructor in both B and C phases of instruction. He left Ft. Rucker for Germany in November of 1962 and attended rotary-wing qualification enroute. In Germany, Lou was assigned ground duty with the 3rd Battalion, 36th Infantry in Kirchgoens, Germany. He commanded a mortar platoon, Headquarters Company, and "A" Company. He then became the Aviation Officer for the 1st Brigade, 3rd Armored Division. In 1965, an automobile accident caused Lou to be medavaced back to the United States and be grounded for two years. His rehab was at Fort Benning, GA, where he was the XO, Headquarters Commandant and then attended the Infantry Officers Career Course. Back on flying status, Lou arrived in Viet Nam in July 1967. He was the Aviation Officer for the 22nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division for six months and then he was in Nha Trang as the Assistant Aviation Officer for 1st Field Force Headquarters. Back to Ft. Benning, he took command of the 181st Assault Helicopter Company and then was assistant S-3 in the 10th Aviation Group. Before returning to Viet Nam, Lou attended the Army Command and General Staff College. Upon graduating in 1970, he was assigned to MACV and attached to the U.S. Air Force Advisory Team at DA Nang. He was an airmobile advisor to, and flew with, the VNAF (Vietnamese Air Force) helicopter squadrons. Completing a second full tour in Viet Nam and a combined 615 combat flying hours. Lou returned to the Army Command and General Staff College as an operations officer in the Office of the Director of Resident Instruction. He completed his MBA degree from Northwest Missouri State University in 1974. Returning to Germany, Lou was the Aviation Officer for the 8th Infantry Division in Bad Kreuznach for three years. His final assignment was as the Battalion Commander, 5th Bn, 1st Inf Trng Bde at Ft Benning. Lou retired as a Lieutenant Colonel on 1 June 1979. Lou loved the command time and flying opportunities that the Army provided, but also looked forward to the challenge to the civilian world.

Lou and family moved to Valrico, FL and in 1980 he went to work for Western Fuels Inc. in Tampa. Western Fuels was a fuel oil and diesel fuel storage terminal that sold and delivered fuel to land-based and marine users. Lou was initially in charge of marine operations, which included receipts if fuel by ship/barge into the terminal and bunkering of customer ships in the Tampa Bay waters. In 1983, he became Operations Manager of the company, which included the terminal, truck fleet; barge fleet and contract tug company. Lou fully retired in 1987 and Judy continued to work until she qualified for her retirement pension from Northwest Airlines in 2001. Both Lou and Judy have been blessed with three wonderful daughters; Linda, Kathy and Carolyn. Along with their daughters, they have three fine sons-in-law and five grandchildren. Lou was an active participate of the YMCA, loved to travel and enjoy Florida. He remained interested aviation, and held a commercial pilot's certificate for fixed and rotor wing aircraft / instruments. He had over 3000 hours flying time.

This information was last updated 05/18/2016

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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024


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