THORNTON OLEN D

COL Olen "Ole" D. Thornton was a VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 07/05/2009 at the age of 74.3 from Cancer
Annandale, VA
Date of Birth 03/27/1935
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with 62 AVN in 64-65, B/229 AVN 1 CAV in 68-69
Call signs in Vietnam OUTLAW 3, KILLER SPADE 6
This information was provided by SSN search Jan 2010

More detail on this person: Olen D Thornton THORNTON OLEN D. THORNTON, Col. USA (Ret.) On Sunday, July 5, 2009, OLEN D. THORNTON of Annandale, VA died at INOVA Fairfax Hospital after a valiant battle with cancer. He was surrounded by Mary Elizabeth, his loving wife of 49 years; his son, David and daughter-in-law Teena, and granddaughters Rachel and Teresa; and his son Paul. His beloved son Christopher preceded him in death in 1984. He is also survived by his brother Otis. Olen spent his last days being thankful for all the blessings in his life - family and friends, prayers and unending support. He served in the US Army for 28 years, retiring as a Colonel. He served two tours in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot, and his military decorations for outstanding service would include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart. He began a second career and served as the executive director of Manufacturers Standardization Society for 16 years. Olen was a native of Dora, MO, and grew up in Ozark County. He was a graduate of Missouri State University with a degree in business, and earned his Masters of Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma. Friends will be received on Thursday, July 9, 2009 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Demaine Funeral Home, Backlick and Edsall Roads, Springfield, VA. A rosary will be said at 7 p.m.. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Friday, July 10, beginning at 12 p.m., at the St. Michael''s Catholic Church in Annandale. Burial with Full Military Honors will take place on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at 11 a.m. at the Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Olen''s memory to the American Cancer Society

Burial information: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA

This information was last updated 09/14/2020

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