John Robert Adie

Colonel John Robert Adie (USA Ret.), 95, died August 2, 2013 in Williamsburg, VA. Col. Adie was born June 20, 1918 in Lowell, MA to John and Jessie Adie. He was the oldest of four sons. He was preceded in death by his mother, father and three brothers. He graduated from Keith Academy in Lowell, MA and received his B.S. in Production Management and Engineering from Boston University and a M.S. in Transportation from the University of Tennessee. John is survived by his wife of 59 years, Julia (Farnham) Adie; his daughter, Julie Adie of Norfolk, VA; his son, Jack Adie and daughter-in-law Linda MacArthur and three grandsons, Jackson, Dylan and Kyle Adie, of Fairfax, VA; and loving nieces and nephews. Col. Adie had a long career in the U.S. Army, serving over 32 years. He began his career in 1942 in the Enlisted Service and then was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Engineer Corps. Throughout World War II, he held various positions in the Engineer Corps, including Company Commander at the Engineer Training Center, Fort Belvoir, VA and in combat service as Engineer Battalion, Commander in Manila, Philippine Islands. After World War II, he joined the US Army Reserves while he completed his undergraduate degree. He then returned to active duty, spending the majority of his career in the Transportation Corps. Major assignments included combat service during the Korean War at Pusan; Commander, 71st Transportation Battalion at Fort Riley, KS and South Korea; Director, Aircraft Maintenance Training Department at the Army Transportation School, Fort Eustis, VA; Commander, 107th Transportation Brigade, Germany; and Director of the Army Aviation Research & Development Laboratory, Fort Eustis. While in the Transportation Corps, John attended the Transportation Officer’s Advanced Course (1953) and US Army Command & General Staff College (1959). At age 41, he attended all the Army’s flight training schools – fulfilling his long-time goal to fly. During his tenure in the US Army, he received many awards and honors, including the Legion of Merit (1 Oak Leaf Cluster); Bronze Star Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster); Army Commendation Medal; and the Senior Army Aviator Badge. He was a member of the American Helicopter Society; Army Aviation Association of America; and National Defense Transportation Association. After retiring from the Army, John worked for twelve years as a Manufacturer’s Representative for the Boeing Company in Hampton, VA. One of John’s proudest accomplishments was serving as one of three founders of the Transportation Corps Aviation Association in 1995. He was the group’s first president and remained as TCAA’s President Emeritus. In 2009, he became the first inductee into TCAA’s Hall of Fame. He also served for many years on the Board of Directors of the Army Transportation Museum Foundation. John was a member of the Crown Colony Club of Williamsburg and served as usher for many years at St. Bede’s Catholic Church. A viewing will be held at Nelsen Funeral Home, Williamsburg, VA on Thursday, August 8, 2013 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. A funeral Mass at St. Bede’s Catholic Church in Williamsburg will be conducted on Friday, August 9, 2013 at 12:00 pm, followed by a reception at Patriots Colony at Williamsburg at 2:00 pm. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. His family would be honored if memorial contributions would be made to the Army Transportation Museum Foundation, Fort Eustis, VA.