Alan David Pinkus USAF Col. Ret.

Col. Pinkus was born and raised in upstate New York. He enlisted in the USAF in 1948 and was a charter member of the Air Force Medical Services in 1949. In 1951, Staff Sergeant Pinkus was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, Medical Service Corps, and served as a Health Services Administrator in the United States, Japan and Korea.

His last tour of active duty was in Washington, DC, where he managed Air Force Reserve Medical Forces programs. Between active duty tours, Col. Pinkus served as a Ready Reservist in unit and individual programs. He retired from active duty in March 1981, earning the Legion of Merit, Meritorious and Reserve Forces Medal with Silver Hourglass.

Col. Pinkus earned a BA in religion Magna Cum Laude, an MA in government Summa Cum Laude and was completing his PhD requirements for government studies at Louisiana State University when he was called for active duty in August 1970 and assigned to the Pentagon.

Following military retirement, Col. Pinkus taught American Government at San Antonio College and the San Antonio branch of Wayland Baptist University. To add to his many accomplishments, he was an ordained and licensed Southern Baptist Pastor, a trustee and devoted volunteer at Grace Point Church in San Antonio.

Col. Pinkus is survived by his sister-in-law, Joann Pinkus; niece, Ellarose Pinkus both living in California; a nephew and niece, Dr. and Mrs. Jack Shirley and children of San Antonio, and his adoptive family, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Garza, Sr. and five sons: Roy Jr., Malcolm, Christopher, Nicholas and Andrew Garza with whom were with him until the end, all of San Antonio.

Interment in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.