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In loving memory

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April 13, 1932 –  November 10, 2007  Whitesboro â?? Thomas J. Dyer, III, known to the locals as â??Jack Dyerâ?, died Veterans Day Weekend, Nov. 10, 2007 at the age of 75. Jack was a highly distinguished and decorated combat veteran. He retired from the U.S. Air Force with the rank of Major and senior pilot of the 319th Bombardment Wing â?? Strategic Air Command at Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota.Jack began his career at the age of 15 when he signed up for the National Guard on Oct. 13, 1947. He joined the Air Force as a cadet and went to serve in the regular Air Force full time after his graduation from High School in his hometown of Galesburg, Illinois. Jackâ??s entire life was dedicated to serving his country and helping others. He was a recipient of the highly distinguished â??Air Medalâ? on two separate occasions. One being for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight where he flew his unarmed 0-2A Aircraft for more than six hours over hostile fire with total disregard for his own personal safety in a successful extraction of a small reconnaissance unit and two downed helicopter crewmen from the midst of a greatly superior hostile force and enemy fire in Southeast Asia on Oct. 5, 1968. Jack was also a recipient of â??The Distinguished Flying Crossâ? for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Forward Air Controller assigned to the 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron, Da Nang Air Base, Detachment 1, 504th Tactical Air Support Group and Phan Rang Air Base â?? Rep. of Vietnam from May 23, 1968 to March 6, 1969 where he flew and superbly accomplished extremely hazardous missions through adverse weather conditions and constant threat of hostile ground fire. Jack held numerous letters of commendation, award certificates and diplomas.
After 23 yrs. Of service in the Air Force, during which time he coached Little League Baseball, was Vice-President of the Travis AFB Saddle Club and President of the Mountain Home AFB Riding Club. Jack retired and took a 5 year break to train race horses, where naturally he came out with some big winners, such as 4-Oâ??s Scooter, Dr. Slamruler, Packed Solid, Slams Hasty Pal and Willow Lee.
Jack then moved to Hawkins and Powers Aviation in Graybull, Wyoming and for 20 yrs. served as a commercial pilot, flying air tankers over raging forest fires, dropping retardants to extinguish the flames. A very dangerous and grueling job that one would have to be extremely brave and courageous to attempt to conquer.
He then moved to the country in Whitesboro, Texas to live out his days near Lake Texoma and Sheppard AFB Recreational Annex to kick back and enjoy what he loved best, â??fishingâ?. He was an outdoor enthusiast who enjoyed fishing, hunting, dog training and was an avid horseman.
They say a man is the sum of his total parts and to put it in a few of the hundreds of words of praise from his Commanding Officers, â??Jack was a man who was devoted to duty, enjoyed being confronted with different problems, had an impressive demeanor, a keen and ready sense of humor, an imaginative mind, an ability to express himself clearly, an indomitable spirit, and exemplary standards. A man with bulldog tenacity who was extremely courageous and always held a can do, will do attitude.â?
Jack laughed in the face of danger because deep in his heart he could pull forth a determination to â??fight with all his mightâ? to overcome and conquer, be it by man or nature, any obstacle he was faced with. Along with his bravery, he also held a beacon of light to shine upon others in need and never hesitated to hold forth a helping hand to aid the needs he could see before him.
Jack was a fighter, a conqueror, a rescuer, a humanitarian and a winner. Jack Dyer was the â??Right Stuffâ?. The stuff that heroes are made of.
He is survived by his wife, Cynthia McBride Dyer of Whitesboro; 2 sons, Steve Dyer of Dunnigan, California and John Dyer, IV of Seattle, Washington; a daughter, Sierra Dyer of Hibbing, Minnesota; 3 sisters, Mary Limburg of Los Angeles, California, Karen Dyer and Harriette Moher, both of Galesburg, Illinois; 2 granddaughters, Stephanie Dyer an Radene Cross and 2 great-grandchildren, Joe Dyer and Abigail Cross.
Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, Nov. 19, 2007 at the Dallas/Fort Worth National Cemetery, Lane B, 2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy., Dallas, Texas (214)467-3374). Jack will be buried with full military honors.

A memorial fund has been established in memory of Thomas J. Dyer, III at Legend Bank, P.O. Box 218, Whitesboro, TX 76273