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Morgan Keith Cox

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Morgan Keith Cox Veteran

Birth
Wichita, Sedgwick County, Kansas, USA
Death
19 Sep 2015 (aged 94)
San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, USA
Burial
San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, USA Add to Map
Plot
Section 48A Site 105
Memorial ID
View Source
Morgan Keith Cox passed away peacefully on Saturday, Sept. 19th, 2015. Born on Sept 7, 1921 in Wichita, Kansas to Ruth L. Cox and Cecil J. Cox, Morgan attended school in Kansas and graduated from Topeka High School in 1940. After high school he attended Texas Christian University and also obtained his private pilot's license when only 20 years old in the fall of 1941. After the attack at Pearl Harbor and the onset of WWII Morgan joined the Army Air Corp and graduated from the Air Corp flight school in Douglas, Arizona. While at Douglas Air Force Base he married his first high school girlfriend from Topeka, Patricia Marie Schaefer. Morgan was initially assigned to captain the piloting of B-24 aircraft at Albuquerque, New Mexico- and from there was assigned to his first duty overseas conducting combat missions with the 8th Air Force, 96th Combat Bomb Wing, Heavy 466th Bombardment Group, flying out of Norwich England. Though barely old enough to vote Morgan led his crew in piloting their B-24 (that they named "Splash"), conducting 32 bombing missions over enemy controlled territory in 79 days. Through heavy enemy resistance and at one point suffering severe damage to his aircraft Morgan successfully completed all safely. For his service he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart. He maintained a friendship and communication with many of his crew for the remainder of his life, and was the last living crew member at the time of his passing. He returned to the US and was assigned to the 5th Ferry Group at Love Field, Dallas, Tex. Flying and delivering many types of wartime aircraft including B-29s all across the US, Africa and Brazil- planes to be later ferried to combat operations in Europe and the Pacific- and was honorably discharged from the Army Air Corp. as Capt. In 1946. Returning from the war Morgan went to work for Columbian Securities Corporation becoming VP and concluded his career at Paine Webber, Jackson & Curtis. From San Antonio he moved to Bandera, Tx where he purchased land nearby and built a ranch in 1973. At his ranch Morgan raised Charolais cattle, Red Angus cattle and quarter horses. He rode cutting horses as a amateur for about 10 years, making the national finals held in Las Vegas on multiple occasions. He maintained a lifelong love of flying and continued to pilot aircraft up until the age of 70- owing several airplanes from time to time, including Mooney's Beechcraft Baron, and a Pitts bi-plane. But his favorite was the PT22 Ryan trainer he flew while in training with the Army Air Corp when in Douglas, AZ. He found it many years later in a South Texas pasture, dilapidated. Checking the serial number on the plane, he realize dit was one of the planes he flew when training while at Douglas AFB. He purchase the plane from the landowner and had it completely restored to its original condition. He flew the plane for a number of years to various club events across the US. Morgan also enjoyed playing golf and shooting skeet and trap as a member of the Bandera Gun Club. And, he enjoyed reading until his eyesight begin to fail and was a frequent visitor to the Bandera Public Library. Morgan was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth L. Cox and Cecil J. Cox, his brother Mason D. Cox and his first wife Patricia M. Cox. He is survived by his two sons, James M. Cox of San Diego, CA and Gordon D. Cox of San Antonio, and his second wife Beverly V. Cox of San Antonio. The family would like to especially thank Danna and Tommy Withers of Bandera, Tx for their wonderful support during his long illness- and for the continuing loving care of Morgan's most loyal companion for the last 13 years of his life, his Australian Shepard, "Houdini". Burial with military honors will be held at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas. May he rest in peace and his soul continue his love of flight. Memorial contributions can be made to the Bandera Public Library.
Morgan Keith Cox passed away peacefully on Saturday, Sept. 19th, 2015. Born on Sept 7, 1921 in Wichita, Kansas to Ruth L. Cox and Cecil J. Cox, Morgan attended school in Kansas and graduated from Topeka High School in 1940. After high school he attended Texas Christian University and also obtained his private pilot's license when only 20 years old in the fall of 1941. After the attack at Pearl Harbor and the onset of WWII Morgan joined the Army Air Corp and graduated from the Air Corp flight school in Douglas, Arizona. While at Douglas Air Force Base he married his first high school girlfriend from Topeka, Patricia Marie Schaefer. Morgan was initially assigned to captain the piloting of B-24 aircraft at Albuquerque, New Mexico- and from there was assigned to his first duty overseas conducting combat missions with the 8th Air Force, 96th Combat Bomb Wing, Heavy 466th Bombardment Group, flying out of Norwich England. Though barely old enough to vote Morgan led his crew in piloting their B-24 (that they named "Splash"), conducting 32 bombing missions over enemy controlled territory in 79 days. Through heavy enemy resistance and at one point suffering severe damage to his aircraft Morgan successfully completed all safely. For his service he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart. He maintained a friendship and communication with many of his crew for the remainder of his life, and was the last living crew member at the time of his passing. He returned to the US and was assigned to the 5th Ferry Group at Love Field, Dallas, Tex. Flying and delivering many types of wartime aircraft including B-29s all across the US, Africa and Brazil- planes to be later ferried to combat operations in Europe and the Pacific- and was honorably discharged from the Army Air Corp. as Capt. In 1946. Returning from the war Morgan went to work for Columbian Securities Corporation becoming VP and concluded his career at Paine Webber, Jackson & Curtis. From San Antonio he moved to Bandera, Tx where he purchased land nearby and built a ranch in 1973. At his ranch Morgan raised Charolais cattle, Red Angus cattle and quarter horses. He rode cutting horses as a amateur for about 10 years, making the national finals held in Las Vegas on multiple occasions. He maintained a lifelong love of flying and continued to pilot aircraft up until the age of 70- owing several airplanes from time to time, including Mooney's Beechcraft Baron, and a Pitts bi-plane. But his favorite was the PT22 Ryan trainer he flew while in training with the Army Air Corp when in Douglas, AZ. He found it many years later in a South Texas pasture, dilapidated. Checking the serial number on the plane, he realize dit was one of the planes he flew when training while at Douglas AFB. He purchase the plane from the landowner and had it completely restored to its original condition. He flew the plane for a number of years to various club events across the US. Morgan also enjoyed playing golf and shooting skeet and trap as a member of the Bandera Gun Club. And, he enjoyed reading until his eyesight begin to fail and was a frequent visitor to the Bandera Public Library. Morgan was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth L. Cox and Cecil J. Cox, his brother Mason D. Cox and his first wife Patricia M. Cox. He is survived by his two sons, James M. Cox of San Diego, CA and Gordon D. Cox of San Antonio, and his second wife Beverly V. Cox of San Antonio. The family would like to especially thank Danna and Tommy Withers of Bandera, Tx for their wonderful support during his long illness- and for the continuing loving care of Morgan's most loyal companion for the last 13 years of his life, his Australian Shepard, "Houdini". Burial with military honors will be held at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas. May he rest in peace and his soul continue his love of flight. Memorial contributions can be made to the Bandera Public Library.

Inscription

DFC AM

Gravesite Details

CAPT US Army Air Forces, World War II



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  • Maintained by: DMart
  • Originally Created by: Trudy
  • Added: Oct 2, 2015
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/153136255/morgan_keith-cox: accessed ), memorial page for Morgan Keith Cox (7 Sep 1921–19 Sep 2015), Find a Grave Memorial ID 153136255, citing Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, USA; Maintained by DMart (contributor 49276078).