Lt. Col. Lee Roy Ziegelgruber

On June 21, 1922, Lee Roy Ziegelgruber was born to Lee R. and Pauline F. Ziegelgruber in Seward, Ok. He was soon accompanied by his brother Bill and began an adventure filled life. Unfortunately, a plane crash took his father when he was 7 years old. His father was a great man respected and loved so much by the community that the whole town of Edmond closed on the day of his funeral.

Pauline took the boys to Tennessee to live with her family after his fathers death. That summer found the boys playing on the Mississippi River with a favored Uncle Luther fishing and riding walking horses near Brownsville, but Oklahoma had not seen the last of Lee Ziegelgruber.

Pauline remarried and the family moved to May, Oklahoma. John Alden was a good man who loved and raised the 2 boys as his own. John and Pauline were soon to increase the family and Jim, Shirley and Sarah Jo joined Lee and Bill on the farm. Lee had no problem being the older brother and dutifully tended his new siblings as well as his chores with love and enthusiasm.

The dust bowl soon covered western Oklahoma and Lee watched as siblings played in the silt that blew through the cracks of their home. Even as the world turned to a brown haze around them he helped drive cattle 10 miles to water each day to finish and ride the same horse to school. His life wasn't consumed by the dust or depression that gripped the nation. Tales of sunday afternoon horse races and rattle snake hunts were some of his favorite memories. An ornery streak reflected in his smile throughout his life and led him to convince his younger brother Bill to reach into a hole to retrieve a squirrel. That scar Bill has to this day. No more mention of the squirrel was ever made. He loved his Brother dearly and the 2 fought together and each other as brothers will but no distance ever separated them.

John Alden was moving back to his families farm in Missouri and Lee went to Edmond, OK to be with his Grandfather and to help out on the family farm. He there attended Edmond Memorial High School and his exemplary school record reflected that great intelligence that he relied on and was respected for throughout his life. Farm boy tough and a great athletic ability earned him a letter in wrestling but the world was changing and unrest in Europe and the Pacific would soon put him on a path that few can claim to have shared.

Always looking forward he joined the Civil Air Command and was taking flight lessons at Wiley Post Airport when the War started and he did as so many of the greatest generation did and enlisted.

Waco, TX was where Cadet Lee Ziegelgruber excelled and rose to the top of his class. Escaping the earth and all of it's troubles he chased the wind and found himself among the clouds. As with all things in his life duty and service to others he placed above all else. Graduating at the top of his class afforded him the choice of assignments and he chose the P38 Lightning. A twin engine fighter. But when he arrived at Pocatello, Idaho the only P38 was out of commission at the end of a runway filled with B24 bombers. 2nd Lt Ziegelgruber was promptly assigned to a bomb crew and like so many other farm boys caught his first glimpse of the Pacific Ocean through the window of a plane headed to war.

The 90th bomb group was stationed in Pau Pau, New Guinea, an island still occupied by the Japanese. Whatever experiences or horror his gray eyes witnessed he kept the war to himself.

Only a story of a bullet cutting the shoelaces on his boot came back from the jungles of New Guinea. Physically unscathed, he returned to the states and unable to leave his great love of flying remained in the Air Force and made it his life. The new career was filled with excitement and his great leadership was matched by his great teaching ability.

As with all who returned from the war he started a family and he was blessed with a son, Lee Roy Ziegelgruber III. Even with his busy schedule, he always made time to do things with Lee III, they went ice fishing on Lake Michigan, and rabbit hunting in the Colorado mountains. He was a “Life Scout” and pushed young Lee III very hard to become an Eagle Scout.

The skies called to the Major and every spare moment was spent in the cockpit looking out into the wild blue. A whirlwind of post World War II technology and a world feeling the first winds of the Cold War put him into Jet Interceptors. From the North Pole to the South Pole and around the Equator at Mach II the farm boy from Edmond, OK tore through the skies and freedom unknown to most mortal men flowed over him as he danced through cloud filled halls.

He spent the period of time during the Korean conflict chasing Russian Bombers that had a habit of straying. Hours of boredom sprinkled with moments of sheer terror as the Captain pushed his craft through all kinds of weather and night to keep the Bear at bay.

Once again he found himself looking down at the Pacific from twenty thousand feet this time called on to help train and supervise the Republic of Korea's fighter wings. Here he one again proved his great teaching and leadership ability. On this small peninsula he found the greatest love of his life and on July 8, 1965 he married Chong Ae Kim. A marriage that lasted for 46 years and a love that will last forever. With Chong Ae and her son ChunYul, he moved back to the States, he adopted Chun Yul and loved him as his own. He helped Chun to achieve his 2nd class scouting award. Soon they found themselves back in Korea. July 2, 1968, Lt. Col. Ziegelgruber was in the back of an ambulance on his way to Kimpo AFB in Seoul, Korea. The cause was an impatient son who wanted to meet his Father and almost got that chance in the back of that ambulance. Kim Frank Ziegelgruber got to look into his Father's eyes for the first time that day and from that day until the last knew nothing but love.

A child's memories are different from those of adults. The worst is the longing and fear of separation from the love and security you know. A new conflict in Vietnam made that separation a reality and now Lt Colonel Ziegelgruber was called to war again. This time not in a bomber high above the clouds or jet screaming across the skies but in a light observation plane at tree top level spotting targets in the dense jungles and rescuing downed airmen.

Throughout this time his wife and sons waited for him in Colorado with his mother Pauline. They waited and prayed for his safe return and in July of 1970 their prayers were answered. He returned to the States and there he would remain. On Feb 1, 1971 Lt. Colonel Lee R. Ziegelgruber retired from the Air Force with distinction and honor. Among some of his medals are the Bronze Star, a Distinguished Flying Cross as well as others and the appreciation of a grateful nation and the Republic of Korea for his services above and beyond the call of duty.

Always a farm boy at heart he returned to the place of his birth and took over the land left to him by his Grandfather. With the money his wife Chong Ae had helped him save they built their home where they would remain the rest of their lives.

He loved his family dearly and his “Yobo” most of all. He always tried to make time even for the most simple of things. A pony named Apple was led for miles and miles while his youngest son Kim Frank sat aboard and laughed and sang until he would finally fall asleep. Very few days were spent without his little shadow following him, whether it was cutting hay or fixing fence, treasured hours passed all too quickly as Father and Son worked and played on their little farm.

He actively participated in Bethel Church. As a Deacon and a Sunday school teacher his leadership and teaching ability lent to more peaceful endeavors. He never overlooked or looked down on anyone and would not give up or let anyone give up around him, as Tommy Boling can attest.

A flash from those gray eyes could admonish but his words could give comfort like no other. You could not be untouched by his caring and gentle nature nor leave him without being affected in some way by his smile and wit. He was an Officer and a Gentleman of the highest order.

Time has given us wonderful memories of a great husband, father and pilot. Even though life's boundaries now separate us it is no less fitting to honor him and emulate his great love for life and those around him. Count yourself fortunate to have met him and if we all tried to be more like him this world would be a better place.

“From the North Pole to the South Pole and all around the Equator.”

“OH BOY!!!!!!!”

Lt. Col. Lee R Ziegelgruber