John C. Combs (Ret. Major), Vietnam Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, Helicopter Flight Instructor, Chief Warrant Officer 4, and Aviation Safety Officer, United States Army passed away at age 78 on May 24, 2022. Jack, or JC as he was known to many, was a beloved father, grandfather, brother, colleague, and friend.
Jack was born in Seattle in 1943 and was a lifelong resident of Washington State. He spent his youth in Seattle and Bellevue, Washington. Jack attended elementary school at St. Alphonsus in Ballard and middle school at Sacred Heart in Bellevue. He graduated from Seattle Prep in 1961 and Seattle University in 1965.
Jack served his country with distinction, first as a Huey helicopter pilot in 1967 in Vietnam with the 173rd Assault Helicopter Company. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bronze Star Medal, among many other honors and citations. He spent thirty-three years in the US Army Reserves as a CH-47 Chinook Instructor Pilot and Aviation Safety Officer. Jack again served on active duty in 2003 for Operation Iraqi Freedom, including a deployment to Kuwait.
Jack spent his free time working on his cars, boating in his MasterCraft, golfing, riding ATV's, and playing poker. He was proud to serve as President of the Washington State Chapter of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilot's Association, participating in numerous Veterans Day parades while proudly displaying a restored UH-1 Huey helicopter. Lastly, Jack never missed an opportunity to spend quality time with his family and friends.
Jack is survived and greatly missed by his four children; Angel Combs, Lisa (James) Bristow, Shelby (Eric) Friesen, and Sean Combs; his four grandchildren, Kylar Combs, Samantha Friesen, Elijah Friesen, and Piper Friesen; his three brothers, Mike Combs, Tom (Ruth) Combs, and Maurie (Barbie) Combs, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Jack was born in Seattle in 1943 and was a lifelong resident of Washington State. He spent his youth in Seattle and Bellevue, Washington. Jack attended elementary school at St. Alphonsus in Ballard and middle school at Sacred Heart in Bellevue. He graduated from Seattle Prep in 1961 and Seattle University in 1965.
Jack served his country with distinction, first as a Huey helicopter pilot in 1967 in Vietnam with the 173rd Assault Helicopter Company. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bronze Star Medal, among many other honors and citations. He spent thirty-three years in the US Army Reserves as a CH-47 Chinook Instructor Pilot and Aviation Safety Officer. Jack again served on active duty in 2003 for Operation Iraqi Freedom, including a deployment to Kuwait.
Jack spent his free time working on his cars, boating in his MasterCraft, golfing, riding ATV's, and playing poker. He was proud to serve as President of the Washington State Chapter of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilot's Association, participating in numerous Veterans Day parades while proudly displaying a restored UH-1 Huey helicopter. Lastly, Jack never missed an opportunity to spend quality time with his family and friends.
Jack is survived and greatly missed by his four children; Angel Combs, Lisa (James) Bristow, Shelby (Eric) Friesen, and Sean Combs; his four grandchildren, Kylar Combs, Samantha Friesen, Elijah Friesen, and Piper Friesen; his three brothers, Mike Combs, Tom (Ruth) Combs, and Maurie (Barbie) Combs, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
John C. Combs (Ret. Major), Vietnam Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, Helicopter Flight Instructor, Chief Warrant Officer 4, and Aviation Safety Officer, United States Army passed away at age 78 on May 24, 2022. Jack, or JC as he was known to many, was a beloved father, grandfather, brother, colleague, and friend.
Jack was born in Seattle in 1943 and was a lifelong resident of Washington State. He spent his youth in Seattle and Bellevue, Washington. Jack attended elementary school at St. Alphonsus in Ballard and middle school at Sacred Heart in Bellevue. He graduated from Seattle Prep in 1961 and Seattle University in 1965.
Jack served his country with distinction, first as a Huey helicopter pilot in 1967 in Vietnam with the 173rd Assault Helicopter Company. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bronze Star Medal, among many other honors and citations. He spent thirty-three years in the US Army Reserves as a CH-47 Chinook Instructor Pilot and Aviation Safety Officer. Jack again served on active duty in 2003 for Operation Iraqi Freedom, including a deployment to Kuwait.
Jack spent his free time working on his cars, boating in his MasterCraft, golfing, riding ATV's, and playing poker. He was proud to serve as President of the Washington State Chapter of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilot's Association, participating in numerous Veterans Day parades while proudly displaying a restored UH-1 Huey helicopter. Lastly, Jack never missed an opportunity to spend quality time with his family and friends.
Jack is survived and greatly missed by his four children; Angel Combs, Lisa (James) Bristow, Shelby (Eric) Friesen, and Sean Combs; his four grandchildren, Kylar Combs, Samantha Friesen, Elijah Friesen, and Piper Friesen; his three brothers, Mike Combs, Tom (Ruth) Combs, and Maurie (Barbie) Combs, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Jack was born in Seattle in 1943 and was a lifelong resident of Washington State. He spent his youth in Seattle and Bellevue, Washington. Jack attended elementary school at St. Alphonsus in Ballard and middle school at Sacred Heart in Bellevue. He graduated from Seattle Prep in 1961 and Seattle University in 1965.
Jack served his country with distinction, first as a Huey helicopter pilot in 1967 in Vietnam with the 173rd Assault Helicopter Company. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bronze Star Medal, among many other honors and citations. He spent thirty-three years in the US Army Reserves as a CH-47 Chinook Instructor Pilot and Aviation Safety Officer. Jack again served on active duty in 2003 for Operation Iraqi Freedom, including a deployment to Kuwait.
Jack spent his free time working on his cars, boating in his MasterCraft, golfing, riding ATV's, and playing poker. He was proud to serve as President of the Washington State Chapter of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilot's Association, participating in numerous Veterans Day parades while proudly displaying a restored UH-1 Huey helicopter. Lastly, Jack never missed an opportunity to spend quality time with his family and friends.
Jack is survived and greatly missed by his four children; Angel Combs, Lisa (James) Bristow, Shelby (Eric) Friesen, and Sean Combs; his four grandchildren, Kylar Combs, Samantha Friesen, Elijah Friesen, and Piper Friesen; his three brothers, Mike Combs, Tom (Ruth) Combs, and Maurie (Barbie) Combs, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
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