Carl Herbert McNair

West Point, 1955

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by West Point 1955 on August 13, 2022:

Carl McNair Obituary Ever the aviator, Major General (Retired) Carl Herbert McNair, Junior, filed his final flight plan on May 2, 2022. Born in Pensacola, Florida on September 22, 1933, to the late Carl Herbert McNair, Senior, and Helena Edwards McNair, Carl was the middle child, the beloved namesake boy between two girls, the late Betty Petree of Pensacola, FL and Anita Jane "Patsy" Singletary of Birmingham, AL. His mother was eager to send him to school at an early age which resulted in his graduation from Pensacola High School at the young age of 17. He was immensely proud to have attended Emory University for one year where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, before receiving an appointment to the United States Military Academy. Coming from a naval aviation town, Carl ironically attended West Point from which he graduated in 1955. With his keen interest in aviation, Carl had chosen to enter the Air Force following his USMA graduation and had even purchased his Air Force uniforms. However, a newly invigorating Army foray into aviation, specifically helicopters, changed his mind and he commissioned as a U.S. Army 2nd Lieutenant. During his military career, in which he logged more than 6000 flight hours (1578 of those in combat), he also received a B.S. and M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech and an M.S. in Public Administration from Shippensburg University and was a loyal alum to all his alma maters. MG McNair had a long and distinguished career of 32 years with the U.S. Army with his finest accomplishments serving as the first Branch Chief of Army Aviation as well as having been the Brigade Commander, Deputy Commanding General, and Commanding General for the U.S. Army Aviation Center in Fort Rucker, Alabama. Lower Alabama and the Wiregrass district remained dear to his heart for the remainder of his life. MG McNair was the unofficial voice of Army aviation for many years and held many leadership roles and top offices in the American Helicopter Society (AHS), the Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA), the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), the Army Historical Foundation, and the National Defense Industrial Association. MG McNair was also awarded many Department of Defense medals including the Distinguished Service Medal [2], Legion of Merit [3], Distinguished Flying Cross [4], Bronze Star [2] with "V" device, 51 Air Medals, the French Order of National Merit, and the Order of Merit from Korea. A beloved undertaking with the Arlington National Cemetery Commemorative Project resulting in the creation of the books Where Valor Restsi?1/2Arlington National Cemetery and For Children of Valor, memorial gifts now presented to the families who have lost loved ones in the defense of freedom. His retirement from the Army catapulted him into a 30-year corporate career in the Metro DC region serving in executive leadership roles with Burdeshaw Associates, DynCorp, Computer Science Corporation, CPS Professional Services, and Cathexis. He was equally devoted to his board work for both corporate entities such as Air Methods Corporation as well as numerous non-profit organizations such as the American Red Cross, Easterseals, Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, and the George Washington Chapter of the Association of the United States Army. He was a devoted member of both Messiah and Aldersgate United Methodist Churches. MG McNair was inducted into the Army Aviation Hall of Fame in 2004. Additional honors which delighted him were being the 2011 recipient of the Distinguished Graduate Award from the United States Military Academy and the Georgia Tech School of Engineering Hall of Fame in 2014 as well as the Shippensburg University Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017 and the 2019 Community Foundation for Northern Virginia Leadership Award. In 2015, he was inducted into the Living Legends of Aviation. Predeceased by his wife, Jo Ann Wilson McNair, in 2017 after almost 60 years of marriage. His survivors include his children: Cynthia Wood (Stephen) of Mount Pleasant, SC, Carl Herbert McNair III "Chip" (Alana) of Uniontown, PA, and Courtney Bulger (Patrick) of Herndon, VA; six grandchildren: Courtland Colantonio (Trey), Taylor Wood (Grace Anne), Rebecca Clark (Eric), Carl Herbert McNair IV "Mac" (Carrie), Virginia Bulger and Emma Bulger, as well as 10 great-grandchildren. The family is extremely grateful for the many caretakers who loved and cared for our parents, but especially for Katiadu Kamara and her extended family for their selfless gift of time for the past 12 years. The family will receive friends for visitation at the Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home, 9902 Braddock Road, Fairfax, VA 22031 from 2 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, May 9. The celebration of life will be at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1301 Collingwood Road, Alexandria, VA 22308 at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, May 10. Reception to follow at the National Museum of the United States Army, 1775 Liberty Dr., Fort Belvoir, VA. Please RSVP for the reception to McNairfuneral@gmail.com. A burial with full military honors will be held at Arlington Cemetery at a future date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the following locations: - American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces, 8550 Arlington Blvd., Fairfax, VA 22031 - The Army Historical Foundation, 1775 Liberty Dr .Suite 400, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060 - Easterseals DC MD VA's Jo Ann & Carl McNair Community Child Development Center to support services for children with disabilities and those from low-income and military families may be made online at https://rb.gy/fvgky8 or mailed to Easterseals Development Department, 1420 Spring St., Silver Spring, MD 20910 Published by The Washington Post from May 6 to May 8, 2022. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/washingtonpost/name/carl-mcnair-obituary?id=34649416 ______________________________________ Carl McNair Arlington Funeral Ted Gay Report On a sweltering hot but clear day our friend and classmate, Carl McNair, was laid to rest with full military honors. A very large crowd watched the entire Old Guard Regt Honor Guard, rather than the usual single platoon, march to the grave site with the flag draped casket on the caisson. It was trailed by the riderless horse with empty boots facing rearward. A flyover by four Army helicopters, with the lone man departing the formation, honored the first commander of the Aviation branch, a fitting tribute. There was a 13 cannon salute, and when the Honor Guard placed the casket in front of the gathering, three shots were fired and the bugler played TAPS in Carl's honor. The chaplain, a former minister in Carl's church, next delivered a splendid eulogy, followed by the local USMA Glee Club alumni singing Army Blue and other familiar melodies. Those present then filed past the casket, placing a rose upon it. Among those present were these classmates and wives: Connie Franklin, Ted Gay, Bill and Joan McCulla, Lorna Malooley, Matt and Betty Schepps, John and Ruth Sloan and Danielle Troyan. A beautiful reception at the Army Navy Country Club concluded the sorrowful, but uplifting, day. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * John Sloan Report This is a report about the event of yesterday at Arlington plus a little background It may be of some interest for those who don't know the details of such events But this time it dose reveal that Arlington cemetery is unfortunately not capable of handling more than the usual burial - Well after all they don't bury a MG who was Chief of Army Aviation and then had very many friends throughout the Wash DC area. First, Personal background since our class 10th reunion in 65 I have attempted to photograph as many class reunions and classmate burials at WP as possible. And as many of same in the DC area especially funerals and burials at Arlington. Normally they consist of a platoon of the Old Guard (or AF detachment) the horse drawn caisson, a small band who march from the church on Ft Myer for funerals or the cemetery admin building for interments - at the grave site there is the firing party, a buglar, and the flag ceremony as it is folded and presented to the family and the chaplain will read and deliver remarks. But yesterday, as far as I could see from a distance the entire Old Guard and full Army band plus more conducted the ceremony. Now, Carl's Funeral The invitation stated we should arrive at the admin building by 1015 - after an hour drive from Manassas we arrived at 1015 - but were refused entry into the parking lot or to the family at the admin building. instead we were led by a cemetery official on a long round about drive to a back road near .5 mile - from the grave cite - photo follows there we (many) sat in our cars. now, by some remarkable coincidence 8 members of the alumni glee club happened to be in their vehicles near enough to Ruth and I and each other to get out on the road and perform some warm up singing in expectation that they would do the usual honors they do for funerals. They never got any closer. So after 1100 we could witness as the whole ceremony of the troops and then the family and favored people passed by at right angles on a road from the admin building - one photo - I did manage with telephoto to catch the cassion as it passed through the trees. anyone interested in more about other funerals with photos of what takes place, I can send some examples

admin