Col. James M. Hembree, USAF Ret., 77, passed away Tuesday, Oct 27, 2015.
Col. Hembree was born June 20, 1938, in Gober, Texas, the son of Absolom Jackson Hembree and Ruth Moore Hembree. He was a graduate of Dixie County High School, Cross City, Florida. He attended the University of Florida prior to entering the United States Air Force Aviation Cadet Program. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from North Carolina Wesleyan College and his Master's Degree in Personnel Management from Central Michigan University. He was also a gradute of Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, and Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Upon completion of Navigator Training, Col. Hembree was commissioned as a Second Lietenant in the United States Air Force and became an Electronic Warfare Officer. He went on to receive his pilot's wings in 1966, at Moody Air Force Base, Valdosta, Georgia.
Over his 28 year military career, Col. Hembree flew 15 B-52 missions and more than 300 KC-135 missions in support of combat operations in Southeast Asia. He accumulated over 2,300 hours in the B-52 as an Electronic Warfare Officer, and over 5,400 hours as a pilot, primarily in the KC-135. He had 1,995 combat hours. His military awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster and the Air Medal with 10 oak leaf clusters.
Col. Hembree's assignments included: Chief of the Tanker Standardization/Evaluation Division, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan; Maintenance Quality Control Officer, Seymore Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina; Squadron Commander, Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma; Squadron Commander, Zaragosa Air Base, Spain; vice Commander, McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas; and his last assignment was as SAC Wing Commander at Warner Robbins Air Force Base, Georgia.
Col. Hembree moved to Crystal River upon retirement to enjoy his favorite hobbies, fishing and playing golf. He was an active member of his church, First Baptist of Crystal River, serving as Trustee, Treasurer, Deacon and Chairman of the Deacons on more than one occasion. He was passionate about those less fortunate, especially the sick and widows in the church.
Col. Hembree was predeceased by his parents; his sister Linda Beth Kemp; and his half-brothers Johnny Hembree, R.L. Hembree and Frank Hembree. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, high school sweetheart, Shandry Jones Hembree; his daughter, Karon (Rich) Wilckens of Senoia, Georgia; his son, Michael (Debbie) Hembree of Hoover, Alabama; grandchildren, Lindsey (Evan) Bryant, Kyle (Jenna) Wilckens, Blake (Courtney) Wilckens, Dylan Wilckens, Shandry Wilckens, Matt Hembree, Mia Hembree; and great-grandchild, Cooper Bryant.
The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 2, at the First Baptist Church of Crystal River. Friends will be received in visitation at the church from 9:30 a.m. until service time. Burial with military honors will follow at 2:30 p.m. at the Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, Florida.
Published in Citrus County Chronicle on Oct. 30, 2015.
Col. Hembree was born June 20, 1938, in Gober, Texas, the son of Absolom Jackson Hembree and Ruth Moore Hembree. He was a graduate of Dixie County High School, Cross City, Florida. He attended the University of Florida prior to entering the United States Air Force Aviation Cadet Program. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from North Carolina Wesleyan College and his Master's Degree in Personnel Management from Central Michigan University. He was also a gradute of Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, and Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Upon completion of Navigator Training, Col. Hembree was commissioned as a Second Lietenant in the United States Air Force and became an Electronic Warfare Officer. He went on to receive his pilot's wings in 1966, at Moody Air Force Base, Valdosta, Georgia.
Over his 28 year military career, Col. Hembree flew 15 B-52 missions and more than 300 KC-135 missions in support of combat operations in Southeast Asia. He accumulated over 2,300 hours in the B-52 as an Electronic Warfare Officer, and over 5,400 hours as a pilot, primarily in the KC-135. He had 1,995 combat hours. His military awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster and the Air Medal with 10 oak leaf clusters.
Col. Hembree's assignments included: Chief of the Tanker Standardization/Evaluation Division, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan; Maintenance Quality Control Officer, Seymore Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina; Squadron Commander, Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma; Squadron Commander, Zaragosa Air Base, Spain; vice Commander, McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas; and his last assignment was as SAC Wing Commander at Warner Robbins Air Force Base, Georgia.
Col. Hembree moved to Crystal River upon retirement to enjoy his favorite hobbies, fishing and playing golf. He was an active member of his church, First Baptist of Crystal River, serving as Trustee, Treasurer, Deacon and Chairman of the Deacons on more than one occasion. He was passionate about those less fortunate, especially the sick and widows in the church.
Col. Hembree was predeceased by his parents; his sister Linda Beth Kemp; and his half-brothers Johnny Hembree, R.L. Hembree and Frank Hembree. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, high school sweetheart, Shandry Jones Hembree; his daughter, Karon (Rich) Wilckens of Senoia, Georgia; his son, Michael (Debbie) Hembree of Hoover, Alabama; grandchildren, Lindsey (Evan) Bryant, Kyle (Jenna) Wilckens, Blake (Courtney) Wilckens, Dylan Wilckens, Shandry Wilckens, Matt Hembree, Mia Hembree; and great-grandchild, Cooper Bryant.
The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 2, at the First Baptist Church of Crystal River. Friends will be received in visitation at the church from 9:30 a.m. until service time. Burial with military honors will follow at 2:30 p.m. at the Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, Florida.
Published in Citrus County Chronicle on Oct. 30, 2015.
Col. James M. Hembree, USAF Ret., 77, passed away Tuesday, Oct 27, 2015.
Col. Hembree was born June 20, 1938, in Gober, Texas, the son of Absolom Jackson Hembree and Ruth Moore Hembree. He was a graduate of Dixie County High School, Cross City, Florida. He attended the University of Florida prior to entering the United States Air Force Aviation Cadet Program. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from North Carolina Wesleyan College and his Master's Degree in Personnel Management from Central Michigan University. He was also a gradute of Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, and Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Upon completion of Navigator Training, Col. Hembree was commissioned as a Second Lietenant in the United States Air Force and became an Electronic Warfare Officer. He went on to receive his pilot's wings in 1966, at Moody Air Force Base, Valdosta, Georgia.
Over his 28 year military career, Col. Hembree flew 15 B-52 missions and more than 300 KC-135 missions in support of combat operations in Southeast Asia. He accumulated over 2,300 hours in the B-52 as an Electronic Warfare Officer, and over 5,400 hours as a pilot, primarily in the KC-135. He had 1,995 combat hours. His military awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster and the Air Medal with 10 oak leaf clusters.
Col. Hembree's assignments included: Chief of the Tanker Standardization/Evaluation Division, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan; Maintenance Quality Control Officer, Seymore Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina; Squadron Commander, Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma; Squadron Commander, Zaragosa Air Base, Spain; vice Commander, McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas; and his last assignment was as SAC Wing Commander at Warner Robbins Air Force Base, Georgia.
Col. Hembree moved to Crystal River upon retirement to enjoy his favorite hobbies, fishing and playing golf. He was an active member of his church, First Baptist of Crystal River, serving as Trustee, Treasurer, Deacon and Chairman of the Deacons on more than one occasion. He was passionate about those less fortunate, especially the sick and widows in the church.
Col. Hembree was predeceased by his parents; his sister Linda Beth Kemp; and his half-brothers Johnny Hembree, R.L. Hembree and Frank Hembree. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, high school sweetheart, Shandry Jones Hembree; his daughter, Karon (Rich) Wilckens of Senoia, Georgia; his son, Michael (Debbie) Hembree of Hoover, Alabama; grandchildren, Lindsey (Evan) Bryant, Kyle (Jenna) Wilckens, Blake (Courtney) Wilckens, Dylan Wilckens, Shandry Wilckens, Matt Hembree, Mia Hembree; and great-grandchild, Cooper Bryant.
The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 2, at the First Baptist Church of Crystal River. Friends will be received in visitation at the church from 9:30 a.m. until service time. Burial with military honors will follow at 2:30 p.m. at the Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, Florida.
Published in Citrus County Chronicle on Oct. 30, 2015.
Col. Hembree was born June 20, 1938, in Gober, Texas, the son of Absolom Jackson Hembree and Ruth Moore Hembree. He was a graduate of Dixie County High School, Cross City, Florida. He attended the University of Florida prior to entering the United States Air Force Aviation Cadet Program. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from North Carolina Wesleyan College and his Master's Degree in Personnel Management from Central Michigan University. He was also a gradute of Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, and Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Upon completion of Navigator Training, Col. Hembree was commissioned as a Second Lietenant in the United States Air Force and became an Electronic Warfare Officer. He went on to receive his pilot's wings in 1966, at Moody Air Force Base, Valdosta, Georgia.
Over his 28 year military career, Col. Hembree flew 15 B-52 missions and more than 300 KC-135 missions in support of combat operations in Southeast Asia. He accumulated over 2,300 hours in the B-52 as an Electronic Warfare Officer, and over 5,400 hours as a pilot, primarily in the KC-135. He had 1,995 combat hours. His military awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster and the Air Medal with 10 oak leaf clusters.
Col. Hembree's assignments included: Chief of the Tanker Standardization/Evaluation Division, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan; Maintenance Quality Control Officer, Seymore Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina; Squadron Commander, Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma; Squadron Commander, Zaragosa Air Base, Spain; vice Commander, McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas; and his last assignment was as SAC Wing Commander at Warner Robbins Air Force Base, Georgia.
Col. Hembree moved to Crystal River upon retirement to enjoy his favorite hobbies, fishing and playing golf. He was an active member of his church, First Baptist of Crystal River, serving as Trustee, Treasurer, Deacon and Chairman of the Deacons on more than one occasion. He was passionate about those less fortunate, especially the sick and widows in the church.
Col. Hembree was predeceased by his parents; his sister Linda Beth Kemp; and his half-brothers Johnny Hembree, R.L. Hembree and Frank Hembree. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, high school sweetheart, Shandry Jones Hembree; his daughter, Karon (Rich) Wilckens of Senoia, Georgia; his son, Michael (Debbie) Hembree of Hoover, Alabama; grandchildren, Lindsey (Evan) Bryant, Kyle (Jenna) Wilckens, Blake (Courtney) Wilckens, Dylan Wilckens, Shandry Wilckens, Matt Hembree, Mia Hembree; and great-grandchild, Cooper Bryant.
The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 2, at the First Baptist Church of Crystal River. Friends will be received in visitation at the church from 9:30 a.m. until service time. Burial with military honors will follow at 2:30 p.m. at the Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, Florida.
Published in Citrus County Chronicle on Oct. 30, 2015.
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