His service in the Army as a helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War was not for the faint of heart. In fact, the statistical life expectancy of his position was mere minutes. He managed to survive, unscathed, after being shot down on three separate occasions, as well as sustaining three crashes due to engine failure. He was awarded a Bronze Star for valor in the TET offensive of 1968, in which he and his crew flew for over 70 hours and removed 53 casualties from the battle.
He will be greatly missed by those who loved him most, and he will be remembered as he was in his prime: funny, logical, irreverent, selfless, and always vocal about his opinions.
A private celebration of life will be held in his honor.
