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Jeffrey M.
Bales Rank
Chief Warrant Officer CWL Dates of Service
November 1967 - January 1971 |
Branch of Service
Army War(s) / Conflicts
Vietnam |
Chief Warrant Officer Jeff Bales was born in Waukegan, Illinois in 1947. He moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1951, graduated from Bay View High School in January 1966. After joining the ARMY in 1967, he was trained as an observation pilot and deployed to Pleiku, Viet Nam in May 1969 where he flew O-1's (Bird Dogs) as a "Headhunter" in the 219th RAC (Reconnaissance Aircraft Company); Jeff was shot down in enemy territory on May 29, 1969 and was rescued by a Huey helicopter after an ensuing air to ground battle. While in Viet Nam Jeff was awarded the "DFC" (Distinguished Flying Cross), Bronze Star and Air Medal with 14 clusters. He left Viet Nam after one year there and became an Army flight instructor at Ft. Stuart, Georgia until his release in January. 1971. Jeff moved to Greendale with his wife (Paula) and their two small children (Natalie and Kimberly) in 1985. He retired from United Airlines in 2007 as a Boeing 747-4 captain. He then flew B-777's for Air India for another 18 months. Jeff remains an active pilot and mechanic on small airplanes. Many thanks go to Jeff's family, friends, and associates who helped him along his journey!