Ervin Flem Rees

Ervin Rees was born in June 1924 and his parents were Flem and Katy Rees of Sublime Texas. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Alief, Texas, near Houston. Ervin attended the local elementary/middle school and graduated from Missouri City High School. He went to Corpus Christi, Texas and worked at the Naval Air Station as an aircraft mechanic during the first part of World War II. He entered the Army Air Corp in 1943 and graduated from the Aviation Cadet program as a pilot in 1944. He completed Boeing B-17 Bomber training and was waiting for an assignment to England when the war ended.

After the war, he attended the University of Houston where he earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Mathematics in 1949 and Mechanical Engineering in 1950. He also studied Meteorology.

In 1951, he was recalled to active duty in the Air Force at Ellington Field and served as a meteorology instructor. His first overseas assignment was in 1953 to the Air Rescue Squadron on Okinawa, flying the Douglas C-47 Gunship and the Grumman SA-16 Albatross seaplane on rescue missions to Korea. After the Korean War, he was assigned to a Weather Reconnaissance Squadron at Guam to fly Boeing B-29 Bombers on weather reconnaissance missions. He penetrated and flew in the eye of ten typhoons. Ervin also flew through radioactive sites measuring radiation fallout when nuclear testing was being performed in the South Pacific. After each flight, the crew and the plane had to go through decontamination procedures.

Upon his return to the United States, Ervin flew worldwide support missions and VIPs in the Douglas C-54 Skymaster from Kelly AFB and Travis AFB. Ervin then attended electronic schools before his next assignment as commander of Technical Operations Squadron (Electronics) Detachment in Bremerhaven, Germany in 1962. In 1965, he returned to the States at Scott AFB to fly with the Special Air Missions Section in C-54s flying VIPs and Military Airlift Command Inspection Teams on worldwide flights.

After completing helicopter training in 1970, he was assigned to an Air Rescue and Recovery Squadron at Udorn Royal Thai Air Base to fly HH-53 Super Jolly Green Giant helicopters. During this tour of duty, he flew rescue missions in various areas of Southeast Asia.

Returning to the States he was assigned as the Chief of Operations and Training Division at Minot AFB for the next two years. On December 1973, he was assigned at RAF Bentwaters, Suffolk, England to serve as the Chief of Base Operations and Training Section, and as Commander of the Civil Engineering Squadron.

Lt Colonel Ervin Rees retired from the Air Force in 1975, and his military flying decorations include the:

• Distinguished Flying Cross

• Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters

• Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross

Upon returning to civilian life in Alief Texas, Ervin served as a Substitute Teacher for the Alief ISD. He was also an Elder (Deacon) and active member of the Alief Community Church, the chairman of the local AARP Chapter for 10+ years, he was very active with the local Boy Scout troop that his sons attended including performing a Philmont hiking adventure, and on various community boards like; the Alief Historical Society, Alief Old-Timers group, voting election official, supporter for the Flem Rees Elementary school, assisted with nursing home and prayer groups, organized many family reunions, and such. With his love for travel, he organized many AARP tours all over America. Ervin was also awarded the 2012 Andrus Award for Community Service.

Ervin was married to Estella Dionne of Belcourt, North Dakota in 1953 until her passing in 1999. They had three children; Alan (deceased), Craig, and Steven, and 5 grandchildren including; Garrett, Landon, Rylie, Jansen, and Jessica. Sister to Virginia Skaggs/Glaze, now deceased.

Ervin will be remembered for his service and love to his country, community, church, family, and to his Lord and Savior. Good bye Colonel, Erv, Dad, Papason, we will see you again someday.