Lt. Mcdonald
February 17, 1933 — June 12, 2011
Lt. Col Jack McDonald (retired Air Force) passed away on 12 June 2011 after a courageous battle with cancer. He was a resident of the San Antonio, TX area for 38 years. He was born 17 Feb 1933 in Kiowa, KS to Aron and Agnes Schroth McDonald and was the youngest of four children and spent his youth in Kiowa and Wichita, KS. His parents and 3 siblings, Bob, Juanita Smith and Jim McDonald preceded him in death. He attended Eldorado Junior College and KU, is a graduate of Oklahoma State University and held a Masters degree from George Washington University, Washington, DC. He is survived by his wife, Kathrynell (Kate) of 56 years; three sons survive him, Col Mike McDonald (Capt Star Ferrell-McDonald), Huntingtown, MD, Dr. Tom McDonald (Dr. Sue McDonald), College Station, TX, John McDonald, Dallas, TX and grandchildren, Sean, Patrick and Kimberly McDonald. Jack entered the AF at Lackland AFB, TX on 3 Dec 1953, entered primary pilot training at Hondo AFB, TX, graduated from pilot training at Bryan AFB, TX and commissioned a Second Lieutenant on 14 March 1955. His first assignment was James Connally AFB, Waco, TX, where he flew T-29 aircraft. In 1958 he was transferred to Moore Air Base, Mission, TX. In 1961, he was reassigned to Vance AFB OK, Enid, OK, at the initiation of UPT (Undergraduate Pilot Training) as a T-37 instructor. In Sep 1963, he received orders to 2nd Air Division, Saigon, Vietnam returning in Dec 1964. After completing his MBA, he was assigned to HQ ATC Randolph AFB, San Antonio, TX, and in 1969 moved to Columbus AFB, MS. In 1971 he received an assignment to Tainan Air Base, Taiwan. Jack also performed duties as liaison to the Chinese Air Force and was presented Chinese Pilot Wings by the Chinese AF. August 1972, he went back to Vietnam and was assigned at MACV HQ, Saigon. At the close of MACV in 1973, he was transferred to NKP Thailand. In Aug 1973, Jack returned to HQ ATC, and retired from active duty as Lt. Col in Jan 1974. After retiring from the USAF, Jack started a new career with Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA). He accepted a position in Contract Safety and continued to provide oversight on Defense Contractors all across the southern U.S., a position he held for 35 years until retirement in 2007. He returned to DCMA as a retired annuitant for two years, assigned to Aviation Program teams, he traveled throughout the U.S. performing assessments on major aircraft companies. During his civil service career, Jack became the cornerstone for contract safety. Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM until 7:30 PM (with a Prayer Vigil being held at 6:30 PM) on Thursday, June 16, 2011 at the Schertz Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 PM on Friday, June 17, 2011 at Randolph Chapel #2. Graveside Services will be held at 2:00 PM on Monday, June 20, 2011 at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Pallbearers are: Jack Burns, Joe Maloney, Ron Poland, Jack Kennett, Tom Harris & Bill Watson.
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