| Lieutenant Colonel Lewis Foster Gifford, Jr. USAF (Ret.)
Lewis Foster Gifford, Jr. was born in Oak Park, Illinois on May 31, 1921 and died on Christmas Day 2002. During WWII, he joined the Army Air Corps, became a pilot and flew 57 B-25 missions in the South Pacific. After the war, he earned a degree in Aeronautical-Mechanical Engineering from the University of Kentucky. In 1951, he was recalled to active duty and served as an officer in the US Air Force until January 1, 1973. During the Viet Nam conflict, he flew 98 missions in the C-7A Caribou. He earned many decorations and medals, including the Purple Heart, Air Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters, Missile Badge and Command Pilot Wings. He was also an engineer for Boeing. Lewis loved photography, calligraphy, woodworking and carving and playing his trumpet - and he was a dandy handyman. He belonged to the Triangle Fraternity, DAV, NRA, Boeing Museum of Flight, C-7A Caribou Association and TROA. He is survived by his wife, Marjorie; three daughters, Jessica, Elizabeth and Carol Jean; four grandsons, Daniel, Joshua, Marcus and Skywren; a brother, McKee and a sister, Mary Elizabeth. Donations to Medic One and the HOPE Heart Institute of Seattle are suggested in lieu of flowers. There will be a private memorial service.
Lt. Col. Gifford next to his aircraft in Vietnam: A photo taken by Lt. Col. Gifford on one of his sorties: |
