Jack Mendel

Jack Gordon Mendel, 85 of Red Oak, passed away Friday, October 10, 2014 at his residence in Red Oak. He was born July 5, 1929 in West Palm Beach, FL. Jack loved golf and football and enjoyed all sports. His favorite teams were the Dallas Cowboys and the Florida Gators. He would say that he spoke a little of about 5 languages but was fluent in none. His closest friend of 50 years, Jimmy Jones of Mineral Wells, Texas, served with him in the military. Jack was a retired Army Aviator (Chief Warrant Officer 4). He joined the military on June 30, 1948 and retired on June 30, 1974. He served two tours in Vietnam, two in Korea and three in Germany. In Vietnam he would fly chinooks into heavy fire to land Special Forces troops into unknown areas never expecting to see them again. He was awarded three Distinguished Flying Crosses, three Bronze Stars and a meritorious service medal. On one particular mission, Jack went out with his roommate and picked up 7 downed Hueys in hot areas in one day, thus explaining one of his Distinguished Flying Cross medals. He was preceded in death by his parents, James Coleman and Carolyn Elizabeth Mendel and one son, Jack Gordon Mendel, Jr. (J.J.) He is survived by his wife, Beth Marie Mendel (Buckles) who he met in Vietnam and married in Hawaii five months later. He is also survived by his children, Wayne Gordon Mendel of Titusville, FL; Debbie Sosbee (Mendel) and her husband, Michael, Jason Gail Mendel and his wife, Amy of Frisco, Cindy Castillo (Mendel) and her husband, Nathan of Red Oak and James Glen Mendel of Houston; by his grandchildren, Matthew Wayne Mendel of Philadelphia, PA, Christopher, Matthew and Jacob Mendel, R. J. Martinez, Channing Jack Castillo and Brooke, Jessica and Katherine Sosbee. Services with full military honors will be held at the Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery at 10:30 a.m. Friday, October 17, 2014. www.waynebozefuneralhome.com

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