Frank J. Col. Jowdy

Col. Frank J. Jowdy USAF Ret, age 83, of San Antonio, died Saturday, February 19, 2005. He was always proud to say "I went from a $21 a month Private to a USAF Colonel in the Pentagon."A native San Antonian, Col. Jowdy joined the 36th Infantry Division, Texas National Guard in 1937, while still in high school in 1939, after graduating from Brackenridge High School he enlisted in the Army Air Corps at Brooks Fields.

After his enlistment, he attended the Aircraft Maintenance School at Chanute Field, IL, until his return to San Antonio in 1940 as a staff Sergeant at the San Antonio Air Depot, Duncan Field, which was a forerunner for Kelly.

He served as an aircraft mechanic, with the rank of technical sergeant, until entering the Aviation Cadet Program in 1942. In March 1943, he received his commission and pilot rating in the Army Air Corps.

During World War II, he flew B-17S over Europe from bases in North Africa and Italy. He flew 50 missions and registered 353 combat flying hours. Col. Jowdy left active Air Force service in 1945, but continued as a member of the USAF Reserve until his recall to active duty in 1949.

He was assigned to duty in West Germany until 1952, and participated in the Berlin Airlift. He also served in Germany from 1956 to 1959, and had one other overseas assignment on the Republic of Vietnam in 1963-64, prior to serving as director of Logistics for the 13th Air Force Advanced Echelon at Udor Royal Tai Air Base, Thailand, from March 1973 to April 1974, he came to Kelly from this assignment.

Col. Jowdy was awarded the Legion of Merit, the Air Medal with nine oak leaf clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with one cluster and the Presidential Unit Citation. His assignments have been primarily in the plans and logistics field.

Col. Jowdy served for five years on the Air Staff in the Pentagon in the Logistics Plans Directorate and the Air Force Plans Directorate. He received a B.A. degree in Social Sciences from San Francisco State College in 1955 and a M.S. degree in Political Science International Relations in 1965 from George Washington University.

He also completed the Air War College at Maxwell AFB, AL. and the School of Systems and Logistics at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.

Survivors: wife, Florence Jowdy; daughter, Maj. Marilyn Jowdy, USAF Ret; son, Frank J. Jowdy, Jr and wife Joy, FL; grandsons, Daniel Jowdy and Joshua Jowdy; sisters, Zarie Aboud, Virginia Pantuso and husband, Frank, and Marianne Willis; brothers, John Jowdy and wife, Brenda, San Diego, CA, and Albert Jowdy and wife, Louise, Houston, TX. Honorary Pallbearers are Frank Jowdy, Jr., Daniel and Josuah Jowdy, Jeff Jowdy, John Jowdy, Jr., and Richard Willis.