Memorials › John Ward "Jack" Crosby Jr
John Ward "Jack" Crosby Jr
29 Dec 1928 – 12 May 2008
| Birth | 29 Dec 1928 |
| Death | 12 May 2008 |
| Cemetery | Sunset Memorial Gardens Helena , Lewis and Clark County , Montana , USA |
| Added by | A Marine's Daughter on 29 Jun 2010 |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26831320 |
Bio
John W. "Jack" Crosby Jr., a retired lieutenant colonel from the U.S. Army, passed away on Monday, May 12, 2008, in Billings. Jack was born on Dec. 29, 1928, in Helena, the son of John Ward and Mildred Crosby. He was the youngest of four children, including Richard, Thirza and Helen, all of whom preceded him in death. Jack graduated from Helena High School in 1946, and went on to attend Castle Heights Military Academy in Lebanon, Tenn., graduating in 1947. He graduated from Montana State College in Bozeman in 1952, earning a bachelor's degree in physical education. He was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, ROTC and the Montana National Guard. In 1952, Jack was commissioned into the Regular Army as a second lieutenant of infantry at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. On July 20, 1952, Jack married Kathryn Marcellus of Forsyth. Together they raised their three daughters, as they moved with the Army and traveled to many wonderful places. Jack's active duty military career spanned 27 years. After graduating from the infantry basic course at Fort Benning, Ga., Jack served with the 45th Division and with the 7th Infantry Division during combat operations in the Korean War. Upon his return, Jack attended language school at the Presidio in Monterey, Calif., where he studied the Turkish language. In 1955, Jack, his wife and infant daughter, moved to Ankara, Turkey, where he was the chief of translation section with the Joint U.S. Mission to Turkey. Other duty stations included Fort Benning, Fort Ord, Calif., and four years (1960-1964) in Arkadelphia, Ark., as the assistant professor of military science for ROTC at Ouachita Baptist College. In December of 1964, Jack was sent to Vietnam for a one-year tour with the Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV) as the district adviser. He later helped train U.S. and foreign troops coming into Vietnam. Following his first tour to Vietnam, Jack graduated from the command and general staff school and was then assigned to Fort Polk, La., where he took command of the 5th Bn, 1st Training Brigade. This assignment was cut short, as he was asked to return to Turkey in 1968, because of his fluent Turkish language skills. He served as the chief of translation branch (Turkish and Greek) for NATO in Izmir. After serving as a commander of the 1st Training Battalion at Fort Bliss, Texas, Jack was sent back to Vietnam in 1970, serving as senior adviser in the Kontum area for the 22nd ARVN Division. After returning stateside, Jack worked at Fort Belvoir and Fort Monroe, Va., with TRADOC. He was involved in the development of the Bradley fighting vehicle. In 1976, Jack and his family moved to El Paso, Texas. He was assigned to White Sands Missile Range, N.M., for his last Army assignment where he worked with infantry systems. He retired from the Army in July of 1979. Jack believed in serving his country as his father and brother had done. Jack moved his family to Great Falls in 1980, where he worked for the Montana Council for Boy Scouts as director of finance and development. He introduced the popcorn fundraising program to the units around the state, a practice soon adopted by other states. He retired from the Montana Council in 1991. Jack and Kathryn moved to Billings in 1999. Jack was a member of Kiwanis in Arkadelphia, and Great Falls. He was a member of the Ottawa Lodge No. 5l, AF & M, Marysville, and the Helena Scottish Rite Bodies. After his retirement, Jack and Kathryn enjoyed their trips to Europe, China, and Japan, as well as the Crosby family reunions held around the United States. Jack is survived by his wife, Kathryn of 56 years; daughters, Loraine (Tom) Hopgood of Bismarck, N.D., Janet (Mike) Devous of Billings, Carol (Robert) Tipton of Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. He is also survived by grandchildren, Julie Hopgood, Amy Hopgood, Jeff Devous, Kyle Devous, Laura Tipton, Sara Tipton; great-grandchild, Kayleigh Glatt; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. The last three years of Jack's life were spent struggling with Parkinson's Disease, and Kathryn cared for him with fortitude and love. Cremation has taken place. A graveside service will be held in Helena at a later date at Montana State Veterans Cemetery.
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LTC US ARMY Korea Vietnam
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