Gerald Pohlman

Gerald Pohlman (Jerry), 71 of Peoria, Arizona entered into heaven on March 1, 2020 with his family by his side. His first thought probably was of Calvin, the Best dog he ever had. Calvin where are you?

Jerry was a military brat; his father Gerald Junior and his mother Lee (kyro) were both in Yokohama Japan (He had dual citizenship) on May 21, 1948. When Jerry was 6 years old, (1955) he and his sisters attended German schools. Here they were children of German descent going to school in war torn Nuremberg. His parents assigned duty in the remaining Nuremberg trials. Gerald junior took his two oldest children to Auschwitz where they saw the ovens. His father told them, never forget what they saw!

Jerry and his family lived in France, Japan, Germany, England, and Wisconsin (home state) of his family, Fort Knox, Texas, Mexico City, and Tucson, Arizona. They resided in Prescott, Arizona where he and his sisters attended grade school and high school. His mother worked as a nurse’s aide at Fort Whipple. When Jerry enlisted in the Army, they moved to Maryvale, a suburb of Phoenix, Arizona.

In 1966, he took his enlistment oath at Sky Harbor Airport and departed for Fort Bliss, Texas. He was ordered to Fort McClellan, Alabama for training. He was 6 foot 2 inches tall and due to his size, he was selected for transfer to Washington, D.C. to join the Honor Guard (Pershing own) C Company, 2nd Platoon. He served under President Lyndon Johnson. While serving as a flag bearer at a State dinner in the White House, Jerry raised his flag too soon and the staff of the Flag hit Mr. Johnson in the rear end. Mrs. Johnson turned to Jerry and asked what state he was from. Jerry answered “Arizona” Ma’am. He felt he had buried too many comrades so he requested to go to Vietnam. He arrived in Cam Ram Bay in the spring of 1967. In Ankh he we assigned to 1st Air Cav Division Base Camp, 2n Platoon 1st Air Cav Division. Jerry was a platoon leader who had to lead his platoon, as they were engaged in the battle of Hue during the TET Offensive of 1968. His platoon and battalion lost too many men four his best friends died and Jerry was wounded. They are remembered in the book, The Battalion of TET by Lieutenant Colonel Charles a Krohn. Jerry received severe wounds to his left arm and suffered from Agent Orange burns. He received the Purple Heart and many other medals.

In January of 1968, he was honorably discharged from the Army. Since he was retired from the military, he decided to go to college. He graduated from Glendale Community College and Arizona State University with a Business degree. He met his “Brown Eye Girl” in the spring of 1968. He was smitten; she was not impressed with him. Lynnette decided to give Jerry a second chance to impress her and they were married on July 18, 1969 in Paradise Valley Arizona. Jerry worked for what was G.D. Searles which years later become Proctor and Gamble. The plant was in Phoenix, Arizona (a Metamucil plant) he worked there for 36 years before he medically retired in 2005.

Jerry leaved behind his wife of 50 years Lynnette (Coleman) daughter Krista Caylynn Pohlman, her children Carrie Renee Pohlman and her son Noah Scott Pohlman. He also leaves behind son Michael (Jennifer) Pohlman and their daughters Lilyana Eileen Pohlman and Abigail Trinity Pohlman. Sisters Cheryl, Denise and Debbie Pohlman their husbands and children. His parents Gerald and Lee (kyro) Pohlman preceded him in death.