Honoring Our Heroes

Col Jerry Lamar Sailors: Age 84

Col Jerry Lamar Sailors served 30 years in the U.S. Air Force. His Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) was Pilot with time in various aircraft, but predominantly in the C-141A and the C-130E. The C-141 was used in various mission profiles during the conflict in Southeast Asia, including aeromedical evacuation missions. The C-130E, an American four engine turboprop military transport aircraft for troops, medevac and cargo, was capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings. In addition, he served in positions of leadership as the Organizational Commander, Academic Program Manager, Air Commander, Director of Operations, Planning and Programming Officer and the Air Operations Officer, Transport/ Airlift and Strategic Airlift. He served in Vietnam flying 353 combat missions in the A-37.

Col Sailors received the following medals, decorations, awards and citations: Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with nineteen oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Vietnam), Vietnam Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon, Air Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with seven oak leaf clusters, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Air Force Training Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Device and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Col Sailors was born July 8, 1940, to his parents, Roy and Desser Mae Sailors, workers in a cotton mill in Gainesville, GA. He graduated from Gainesville High School in 1958. He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy June 5, 1963, as a 2nd Lieutenant beginning his military service career. After completing pilot training at Craig Air Force Base (AFB), AL in August 1964, his first assignment was at Travis AFB, CA, during 1964-1967 flying airlift missions with the 86 Military Airlift Squadron first in C-130E aircraft and then transitioning to the C-141A. He was deployed to Vietnam for one year during 1967-1968 serving with the 604 Air Commando Squadron at Bien Hoa Air Base flying the light attack aircraft, the A-37A, with combat missions providing close air support of allied ground troops from the DMZ to the Delta region. He served two months in the Direct Air Support Center Victor, Hue-Phu Bai, RVN coordinating close air support with U.S. Marines.

Col Sailors returned to Travis AFB during 1968-1971 where he flew the C-141A and attained crew qualifications as flight examiner. During 1971-1973, he served as staff officer in Current Operations at HQ Military Airlift Command and then attended the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwel AFB, AL, during 1973-1974, and while there, he graduated from Troy State University with a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Guidance in 1974. Next, he served at Scott AFB, IL, during 1974-1977 as the Executive Officer, MAC/DO and MAC/XP. After a PCS to Charleston AFB, SC in 1977, he served as the Chief of 437th Military Airlift Wing Command Post, Operations Officer 76 MAS, and Commander 20 MAS. tHe returned to Maxwel AFB, AL, and attended the Air War College during 1981-1982. His next assignment was serving as Deputy Chief, Doctrine & Concepts Division and Chief War and Mobilization Planning Division at the Pentagon during 1982-1984. He returned to Charleston AFB, S.C., and served as the Deputy Commander for Operations during 1984-1985. He was stationed at Ramstein AB, Germany and served as the 322 ALD Deputy Commander for Operations and then Vice Commander during 1985-1988. Next, he returned to Maxwell AFB, AL, and served as the Vice Commandant of Air Command and Staff College during 1988-1991. His final assignment was as Commander, Extension Course Institute, Maxwell AFB Gunter Annex during 1991-1993. Col Sailors retired from military service May 31, 1993.

After his military retirement, Col Sailors worked as the President of the Coosa-Alabama River Improvement Association in Montgomery, AL, during 1995-2018. He is a member of the Daedalians, the premier fellowship organization for military aviators, and he is the immediate past president of the Montgomery Area Chapter Military Officers Association of America. As a member of the Providence Presbyterian Church at Montgomery, AL, he has served as treasurer and elder. His first wife, Doreen, and he were married 44 years before she passed away in 2010. His wife, Dale, and he have been married 10 years. He has four children, two step- children, nine grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.

Col Sailors’ conclusions about what his military service means to him are: “When I made decisions about my future life, I knew that I did not want to work in a cotton mill. The military stabilized my life. It gave me the opportunity to serve my country, to travel to see nice places and to make life-long friends.” He would like those people with whom he served on active duty to remember him as a good officer and for his friends in retirement as a good man and to his family as a good father, good grandad and good great-grandpa.

THE VIEWS OF SUBMITTED EDITORIALS MAY NOT BE THE EXPRESS VIEWS OF THE ALABAMA GAZETTE.