More detail on this person: Albert Brooks
Smiley, "AL", my next door neighbor since my wife
Cathy and I became his neighbor in Daleville, AL
two and a half years ago, passed away November
5, 2007 at his home with his surviving family by
him after a brief illness.
His cause of death is not totally known, but is
known to be cancer related.
Selfishly, I wish Al and I had had more time to
get together, even over the fence. Al loved his
daughters, his cats (and our cats, too, next
door), and deeply missed his previously deceased
wife Beth of 48 years.
Cathy and I found out about a year ago that Al was
one of Cathy's instructors when she was going
through the Flight Operations Specialist course at
Ft. Rucker, way back when.
Al's pecan trees were his pride and joy, and he
enjoyed collecting them and shelling them for his
relatives and special friends. My wife Cathy and
I were blessed to be included in that circle.
The following is from Al's obituary in the Dothan
Eagle, Dothan AL as edited by me:
Al served 16 years in the USAF, receiving the
Korean Service Medal, Air Medal with one OAK
Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying
Cross with three Oak Leaf Clusters, United Nations
Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Air
Force Reserve Medal, Army of Occupation Medal
(Japan), and the Air Medal with 25 Oak Leaf
Clusters.
During his USAF career, Al flew many aircraft
including P47, F84, F85, F86, F105, and U2.
During his service flying U-2s, Al knew and was a
contemporary of Francis Gary Powers. Al left the
USAF as an O-3 Captain.
Al served tours in Korea, Germany, Japan and
RVN, and some we will never know.
He transferred to the US Army and served at least
one tour in RVN flying Hueys. One of his
daughters thinks he served more than one tour, as
his affiliation with the CIA may not be known, she
cannot remember. His last Army rank remembered
by daughters was CW2.
Upon his retirement from the Army, Al was awarded
the ARCOM for his contributions for developing new
tactical flight programs for rotary wing flight
school student pilots.
After Military retirement, Al was in civil service
as a flight instructor, and then as a classroom
instructor. He retired from Civil Service after
20 years.
He was a true Patriot. On this Veterans Day, Al
is deeply and truly missed.
From: John M Willingham, CW4, US Army
Aviation, (Ret)
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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