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N
THEODORE J. "TED" NILSSEN
Sept. 28, 1947 - April 25, 2011
Ted served in the 281st AHC as a combat aviation gunner from
2-68 until 9-69 in both the Bandit and Wolf Pack Platoons. His obituary follows:
Theodore Joseph Nilssen was born in Bay Shore, New York, 1947. Ted died suddenly
on April 25, 2011 at Memorial Hospital. In Bakersfield, CA. He is survived by
his wife, Jean Lourie Nilssen, and his children and their spouses.
Ted entered Northeastern University in Boston upon a full-ride scholarship,
having graduated from high school with Honors in Science and top marks on his
SAT tests. He was also a New York State Regents Scholarship winner with
Commendation from the National Merit Program. However, Ted voluntarily
interrupted his higher education to enlist in the United States Army, feeling a
strong calling to serve his country in the Vietnam War. He then served in the
Army�s Special Operations Unit, participating in the 281st Helicopter Assault
Unit, for which he received the Air Medal for participating in more than
twenty-five aerial missions over hostile territory in support of operations
against communist aggression. After two years of military service in Vietnam, he
subsequently received his BS Degree from Stony Brook University in New York.
Ultimately, Ted completed his MA at the South Dakota School of Mines.
Ted embarked upon his professional career as a mining engineer in Lafayette,
Louisiana but later accepted a job in Las Vegas. About 1982, Ted began working
in the oil industry and accepted a position as a petroleum engineer in Ventura.
In the late 1980�s, he began working in Bakersfield, later working as a
consultant in Santa Maria and various other areas. Ted ended his professional
career as the Drilling Manager for E and B Natural Resources in Bakersfield,
where he had enjoyed working for the last several years.
Ted struggled with chronic conditions probably related to Agent Orange , and as
his system became more and more compromised, a final struggle with an acute
illness and heart issues took their toll. Nevertheless, Ted, was a high-achiever
still monitoring the company oil rigs and the family�s children up to a few
short days before his death, remained positive and goal-driven to his last few
days. When he was asked when he planned to retire, he would reply that he would
be working until the day he died, which proved to be true.
Ted�s military experiences were central to his self-concept and value system; he
focused solely on the positive and was a self-starter from beginning to end, a
highly independent and self-actualized man. Attending the Special Operations and
281st Reunions highlighted his life as these vets constituted his closest
friends and a special sense of family. As Agent Orange ultimately cut short his
lifespan, he was a fallen hero who sacrificed his golden years for his country.
A true hero, Ted was always a modest and unaffected dynamo. He died as he
lived�with his courage and dignity intact. His loss is profoundly felt, but the
good that he did will long survive him.
JAMES NORRIS
Date of Birth: 03 Jun 1948 Date of Death: 25 Sep 1998
Jim's family may live at:
841 Flora Street Barstow, CA 92311
O
BILLY J. OBRYAN
5007 E San Molino St.
Sierra Vista, AZ 85650-9348
Phone
- (520) 803-7922
LT. COLONEL RINO O. (RAY) OSKA
USA Ret
281st AHC 1966-67 Operations Officer & Executive Officer.
Died January 31, 2010 in Basye, Virginia at age 81
OKSA REINO OSCAR OKSA of Basye, VA died January 31, 2010. He
served in the Army during the Korean and Vietnam War. Served his county
honorably in both the Coast Guard and Army for more than 25 years. He was active
in the Rotary International and had his own tax service and remained a vital
part of his community. He made us laugh often and he regaled us with his old
solider stories. He was loved... He will be missed dearly. Reino was born
November 2, 1928 in New York. Member of Grace United Church of Christ in Mt.
Jackson, VA. Beloved husband of Hanna Oksa; beloved father of Tonya Kipple of
Washington State; sister, Katri Oksa; two brothers, Aarne Oksa and Carl Edholm
all of New York; four grandchildren; one great-grandchildren. Services were held
on Wednesday, February 3 at 2 p.m. at Grace United Church of Christ. Rev. Robert
Harmond wth burial at Grace Church Cemetery.
From Jack Mayhew
Dear Mr. Mayhew,
This is Tonya Kipple, Ray's daughter. I just
returned from VA where my father was buried on February 3. Two soldiers from Fr.
Belvoir attended and did a wonderful, professional job of playing taps and
folding the flag that draped his coffin. I was greatly honored as was my
stepmother. He was an honorable soldier and a great Dad. I will miss him
terribly.
Thank you so much for your kind words and your willingness to
help honor his life. I will always treasure it. Within the next few days, I will
try to scan the pictures that I found of my Dad and sent them to you. It will
touch my heart to have them posted. Blessings,
Tonya Kipple
CWO GARY D. O'CONNOR
DOD: 22 Jan 1993. DOB: 25 July 1945
Served as a CW2 in the 145th Platoon and the 281st in 1966. Gary was living at
93003 Ventura, Ventura
CA at the time of his death, which was related to an
accident
GEORGE E OLSEN
Date of Birth: 06 Jan 1933 Date of Death:
29 Nov 1997
624 Cable Ave
Beachwood NJ 08722
Last known employer:
Board of Education
P
JOESEPH "JOE" F. PARNELL, JR
Maj. Donald Ruskauff presenting Joe with his bars
upon his receipt of a direct commission
to 1st LT.
Joe served in the 281st AHC in 1967 as a Fire Team Leader in
the Wolf Pack. He was an skilled pilot and great team leader who also served as
the Admin Officer for the 281st. Following a tour in Germany Joe left the Army
as a 1ST LT. He worked as a flight instructor in Colorado then joined
Continental Airlines as a pilot. Joe died on November 21, 1988. His Mother Doris
resides in Tijeras, NM and and his Father, Maj. Joseph F. Parnell Sr. USAF Ret.
is living in a nursing home in Pueblo, NM.
From: Barc Boyd,
Wolf Pack Platoon Leader in 1966
Joe came to me in '67. He had some
college training in journalism, and was immediately given the job of writing
awards and decorations stuff. We set him up in a very small command tent with a
field desk and light, and he was delighted to have the responsibility.
From: Joe Bilitzke [mailto:bilitzke@mindspring.com]
He was also the
standardization IP for Wolf Pack. I took my initial check ride with Joe. A good
guy and great pilot. Joe B.
THOMAS J. PAGLIARINI
Date of Birth: 26 Jun 1950, Date of Death: 06 Apr 1974
SSAN 039-30-9202 Issued: Rhode Island
DANNY G. PARR
DAT 3/84, Sebastian AR 72904
SSAN: 432-96-6231
WILLIAM A. “BILL” PERREN
12 May 2011
Fang and Wolf Pack Gunner
Wolf Pack Assistant Platoon Sergeant
08/65—03/68
Bill passed away on May 12, 2011 at his home in Jasper, TN after a prolonged
battle with cancer. Bill was one of
the longest serving Intruders having arrived in Vietnam to join the 6th
Aviation Platoon which was merged into the 281st AHC when it arrived
into country. Bill is
survived by his wife Rhonda.
Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2011
To: hq_281ahc@yahoogroups.com
Sad news. Bill Perren passed away this morning. I spoke
with Rhonda a few minutes ago. She is doing as well as can be expected. No
arrangements at this time.
Bill was one of the first Fangs I met when I joined the 6th
Platoon in October 1965. I flew his aircraft a lot during the year I was there.
Bill served in the 6th Platoon and 281st for almost 3 years.
He was a trooper.
John
From: Earl Broussard
Sent: Monday, May 16, 2011
My bird had a hot tube on the left side and armament had worked on it and
pronounced it repaired. Bill and I installed the pods back on the bird, went
through a couple of cycles with the switch. We tested the tube that fired when
the arming switch was placed in the on position with a volt meter, when we
cycled the switch we got no indication that a rocket would fire by just cycling
the switch. We loaded the tubes with rockets except the two top tubes on a 7
shot pod, it was a rush thing.
Bill and I moved my bird "553" out of the revetment and moved it to near compass
rows to bore sight the rocket pods. We had sighted in the right pod in and we
were in the process of sighting in the left pod when Bill decided to test the
switch again and boy howdy, a rocket left the still hot tube in a hurry. I had
set the bore sight on the right shoulder of Budda and true to course it hit and
knocked a chunck out of Budda. There were a couple of Wolf Pack guys working
their ships near the end of the flight line and they came running to help us get
it back to the revetment. We were all in turbo getting the bird parked and the
tug moved back to it's place by the maintenance hanger in record time. Budda was
about a mile away, we sighted in on Budda's core, center mass with a spread of
about 15 meters. This was all guestimation but I'll trust my memory with some
degree of certain. Bill and rest us were sitting around like MONKEYS, See
Nothing, Hear Nothing, Who Me, and the rest Boy I Haven't a Clue.
Bill & I still laughed about this some 40 years later when we met for the first
time in 2004 in Houston. I'll always remember Bill as my brother and we almost
were. Bill was supposed to come home to Holmwood, La. to stay with my parents
until he could get his feet on the ground. My folks were happy to help him out
after he got out of the Army. Bill felt that he had no one to go home to so we
worked something out. Instead he never showed up and according to Emanuel
Jackson he visited him in New Orleans and I'll let Emanuel tell you'll that
story.
Bill was a Kind and Good MAN. He'll never be dead in my MEMORY
Earl J Broussard
Wolf Pack
CE A/C 553
TERREL "TERRY" KENTON PETERMAN
MOUNTAIN HOME - Terrell "Terry" Kenton Peterman, 57, of
Mountain Home, passed away peacefully into the presence of his Lord on
Resurrection Sunday, March 23, 2008, while at home with family after a brave
two-year battle with brain tumors.
Terry's deep faith in God sustained
him throughout this difficult time. He taught us all that death is not to be
feared when we are safe in the hands of God. Terry was born to Kenton H.
Peterman and Ruth Jerome Peterman on May 9, 1950, in Nampa. He grew up working
on dairy farms in Star, Kuna, Meridian and Middleton with his family until he
graduated from Middleton High School in 1969. He then entered the U.S. Army,
where he served with the 281st AHC as a chief warrant officer during the Vietnam
War. Terry flew both gunships and troop-carrying helicopters throughout Vietnam
and as part of the military's secret Lam Son Mission into Laos. Terry received
commendations for his performance and was awarded two Purple Hearts during his
military service.
Terry partnered with his father, Kenton, and brother,
Jerry, in their Peterman Farms agribusiness operation in Mountain Home for the
past 34 years. During this time, he used his helicopter experience in crop
dusting. Later, he enjoyed operating the large baler harvesting alfalfa. He and
his wife, Debbie, spent many dating hours on the baler. Then he had a passion
for planting corn and watching it grow. He was well known as a man of integrity
as well as one with a keen sense of humor. Terry appreciated the fellowship and
support of his church family, especially his Bible study group, at Mountain Home
Church of the Nazarene.
Terry is survived by his loving wife of almost
seven years, Debbie; sons, Dan Peterman of Boise and Ben (Julie) Peterman of
Mountain Home; his mother, Ruth Jerome Peterman; sisters, Kaye (Jim) Black and
Susan Conley, all of Tampa, Fla.; his sister, Paula (Alton) Huyser of Shoshone;
his brother, Jerome "Jerry" (Tresa) Peterman of Mountain Home and his beloved
grandchildren, Makayla and Trevor Carothers, Alyssa Rodriguez and Olivia Farfan.
Terry was preceded in death by his father, Kenton, in 1997.
PAUL NICHOLAS PETHIA
DOB: 09 Feb 1944 DOD: 23 Aug 2008 Age: 64 POD: Dunedin, Pinellas County, FL 34698 SSAN Issued: Florida
DANIEL PETERSON
DOB: 11 Jan. 1949 DOD: 15 Oct. 1989
SSN 054-40-1906, Issued in NY. Death due to Cancer
MICHAEL R. PHIPPS
Born 4 Aug 1947 Died 4 Jan 1999
Jim
Minoque had contact with Mike in 1998 and had heard that he had cancer. He and
I tried to locate Mike during 1999, but were unsuccessful. We didn't have the
SSN then. I found the number on the Social Security Death Index along with his
name. I am very sorry to have missed making contact with him. Mike, Ron Lesonik
and I were room-mates in the SF building near the perimeter fence. We built the
room in mid 1969 from borrowed (stolen) materials from the USAF and 5th SFG. We
were all great friends back then. Mike was a Bandit Pilot who extended his tour
to fly for Wolf Pack. He was a great pilot and a Great American. Bob Mitchell
RE: Mike Phipps
I was deeply shocked when I read about Mike
Phipps death. I have tried to contact him more than a couple of times over the
years but with no success, and for this I will always be sorry. I just wanted to
say Thanks! Mike was one of the best pilots I ever knew and I credit him in no
small way for my survival. He gave me my initial check ride for transition to
Guns. He took me under his wing and taught me things I didn�t believe were
possible with a Huey. His call sign was Wolfpack 34 and I was proud to inherit
it when he left country. I will miss him, even though the last time I saw him
was over 30 years ago. This one is hard to take. Mike Johnson 07 Feb 1949, Date of Death: 09 May 2001
343-42-2997 Issued: Illinois
SSG EARL POWELL
1930 - 1998
Earl Powell died on June 27, 1998. Born
October 4, 1930
Earl Powell was 67 years old. The last known place of
residence for Earl Powell was 46236 Indianapolis, Marion, IN
Source: G. Stagman &Social Security Administration
ROBERT B. PURVIS
1941-1994
SSAN: 188-32-5497, Date
Of Birth: 07 Jul 1941, Date of Death: 05 Jul 1994 issued in
Pennsylvania."Robert, a 76T20 Tech Supply Specialist, was promoted to E5 on 10th
BN SO 309 dated 16 Nov 68... He was a Professional, it didn't make any
difference If a aircraft part left the 483rd TC Tech supply, you can bet a
proper request was submitted to get the part.. This assured everyone that
if The card deck said there was a part in the slot, you could guarantee it Was
there.. He was one heck of a good by-the- book tech supply man, who worked for
me in mid 68".
Gary Stagman, Maint. NCO