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Elmer G. Allred

 

No. 19981February 8, 1930 - March 10, 2012          

Died: Phoenix, AZ

Cremated and inurned.

 

Elmer Gene Allred was born in Holdenville, OK, but he grew up in the Fort Worth, TX, area. He had a challenging childhood. His father John P. Allred and his mother Lily M. Fowler divorced when he was a baby. He had two siblings, Loretta and Royce, who lived with their father. Elmer lived with his mother until he started school, at which time he lived with his mother’s sisters.

His childhood goal was to fly, but his family was not supportive of him so he decided to reach his goal on his own. At age 12 he moved to the back of a General Store where he slept on a cot and used an old outhouse. He had many challenges along the way, but he overcame them. In 1947, at the age of 16, he graduated from the Fort Worth Technical High School where he played basketball and was the Valedictorian of his class. He received a two-year scholarship to Oklahoma A&M where he majored in aeronautics prior to entering West Point in July 1950.

As a member of Company F-1 Elmer hit the ground running and as reported in the 1954 Howitzer he “promptly proved himself as a happy-go-lucky guy. He is always ready to help a buddy. From old Elmer, the pride of Texas, you can learn anything: that you’re good for a 3.0 in fluids to the latest tall tale. There will never be a dull moment with Elmer around.”

It did not surprise anyone (except perhaps his family) that upon graduation he was commissioned in the Air Force. It was another major step forward in accomplishing his lifelong goal of flying.

He met his wife-to-be on a blind date during First Class year. Lillian Gean Sito was a New York City gal and she found Elmer to be quite different from the other cadets she had met. As time went on she learned of Elmer’s childhood life and that this self-made man had many of the attributes she admired. Their relationship blossomed. Before reporting for flight training they were married in Fort Worth, TX, on Jul 17, 1954. Together they would share 24 moves during their 27 years of military service.

They started their life together at Hondo, TX, where Elmer got his basic training. From there they went to Williams AFB in Chandler, AZ, where in 1956 Elmer earned his wings as an F-86 pilot. Their daughter Derri Lee was born while they were at Williams. A year later, while stationed at Nellis AFB, Las Vegas, their second child, a son Marc Rane, was born. This followed by a three-year overseas tour at Kadena AFB, Okinawa, where their third child, Roice Gene, was born.

Subsequently, their assignments took then to Myrtle Beach AFB. During this assignment Elmer was frequently deployed to Aviano AFB in Italy. In a major change from his previous flying assignments Elmer was assigned to Fort Bragg, NC, from 1962 to 1964, where he was a Forward Air Controller (FAC). At Fort Bragg he also qualified as a jumpmaster at the 82d Airborne Division.

From Fort Bragg Elmer was assigned to Vietnam (1964-65) with duties as a FAC. From 1965 to 1966 he was a flight commander in the USAF F-104 training program for the German Air Force at Luke AFB, AZ.

Elmer continued to find time from his flying duties to continue his education. In 1970 he received a Master of Arts Degree from Arizona State University. In 1971 he graduated from the Air War College and also received a Master of Political Science from Auburn University.

After the War College he was again assigned duty in Vietnam, this time flying the F-4, for what was to be his final flying assignment. He had duty at Langley Air Force Base upon his return from Vietnam. This was followed by an unaccompanied tour in Korea.

It was during the Korean tour that Elmer was selected to be the commander of Ching Chuan Kang (CCK) Air Base in Taiwan. His mission was to eventually turn the base over to the Chinese. After Elmer settled into his command assignment, Lil joined him for a year on Taiwan and lived on the economy. Although there were challenges associated with living on the economy in Taiwan, Lil remembers her time there as among the happiest times of her life.

Following the Taiwan assignment Elmer served at the SHAPE Headquarters at Mons, Belgium, from 1975 to 1978. Following that he was assigned to Langley AFB, VA, where he retired as a colonel with 27 years of service in 1981.

After leaving active duty Lil and Elmer settled down in Scottsdale, AZ, to be near their children and their families. Elmer put his many talents together as a real estate broker, eventually establishing his own successful brokerage firm.

Elmer loved to gamble, so he and Lil took many trips to Las Vegas. He was also an avid reader mostly about history and science.

In January of 2012 Elmer went to the doctor for a check-up and was diagnosed with liver cancer, which metastasized into brain cancer.

Elmer was described as a happy-go-lucky person who was extremely generous and always ready to try anything new. In addition to their two sons and one daughter they were blessed with five grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Elmer rose from a difficult and challenging childhood to fulfill his youthful dream of becoming a pilot, but more than that he served his country for 27 years in a wide variety of demanding assignments throughout the world. This was followed by a very successful 30-year career in real estate. Well Done Elmer, Be Thou at Peace.

— Ken Bailey ’54 and Lil Allred

 
 

Originally published in TAPS, 2014

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