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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