John Jennings Beoddy

West Point, 1955

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Christopher John Beoddy on August 18, 2020:

Yesterday morning The Greatest man I have ever known left for his next assignment after this life. God blessed my sisters and I with a father who was the model of wisdom, care, love and true manhood. My heart is shattered not because of the tragedy but because of the incredible gift he was in my life and so many others. I hurt because the man who was always there for advice, counsel and just support is not able to answer the phone or greet me when I visit. My father had many titles and roles I won't begin to list - today. But suffice to say he was my partner in catch, fishing, pie making, cherry pit spitting, shooting, camping, and in learning to serve others. Every ounce of what is good in me today was planted and cultivated by him. I am so thankful I had a chance to tell him why he was, is and will always be my hero before he breathed his last. Colonel John Jennings Beoddy 22 May 1932 to 7 Oct 2018 What follows is my Papa's formal obituary written by his greatest fan -- Lt Col Christopher "CJ" Beoddy, USAF Ret. Class of 1988 USAF Academy (aka me) Colonel John Jennings Beoddy 22 May 1932 to 7 Oct 2018 Colonel John Beoddy, a native of southern Ohio, left home in 1951 to attend the U. S. Military Academy. After graduation from West Point he opted to serve as a member of the now 7-year-old United States Air Force rather than as an Army officer. He began his Air Force career with his best friend and bride the former Barbara Scott of Chillicothe, Ohio by attending Primary Flight Training at Marianna, FL, with follow-on Basic Training at Vance AFB in Oklahoma. He remained at Vance as a Flight Instructor before his next assignment to graduate school where he earned a MS in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Southern California with a subsequent assignment to Space Systems Division in Los Angeles. In the dawn of the nation's space program he served as a project engineer and Booster Branch Chief in the System Program Office of the nation's first space-based nuclear detection satellite system. In recognition of his success he was selected to attend Air Command and Staff College in Montgomery, Alabama followed by duty in Viet Nam. There, he flew in "Ranch Hand", our nationA-'s only combat defoliation unit. His C-123 Provider (nicknamed patches for all of the beer cans patching the holes in her fuselage) now stands proudly in the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base just 96 miles from where he was born. After Vietnam Col. Beoddy returned to the U.S. and the U.S. Air Force Academy as an Associate Professor and Executive Officer in the Department of Aeronautics. Again, recognized for leadership and performance he was selected to return to Montgomery, AL, and graduated from The Air War College. The remainder of his career was spent in the Logistics field, serving as Chief of the Engineering Division at Sacramento Air Logistics Center (ALC), Chief of the Material Management Division at Oklahoma ALC, Vice Commander of The United States Logistic Group (TUSLOG) and Commander of Ankara Air Station in Ankara Turkey, and concluded his Air Force career as The West Coast Competition Advocate based at McClellan AFB. During his military career, Col. Beoddy acquired over 4000 hours of flying time in various aircraft, including over 600 combat hours in the UC-123. In addition to the UC-123, Col Beoddy flew the Piper Cub, T-6, B-25, T-33, C-47, T-29, TG-4A (sail plane), and C-12. His more notable awards include The Legion of Merit, The Distinguished Flying Cross, The Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, and The Air Medal with eleven Oak Leaf Clusters. Colonel Beoddy left for his next assignment after this life early in the morning of October 7th. His biggest monuments to his wisdom, care, love and amazing stature as a man are not the plaques or static displayed aircraft bearing his name but the many men and women he touched in his career and as a volunteer helping others after he left his uniform behind to continue serving his country as a private citizen. Most notable among those living monuments are his two daughters (Susan & Becky), a son (Chris), four grandsons, four granddaughters and one great grandson named Johnny in his honor.

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