Capt Joel R. Birch was the husband of Betty L. Birch, the dear father of sons, Joel R. Jr., Charles L., Gregory W. Birch; daughters, Elizabeth M., and Victoria J. Birch all of Friendswood Texas. He was the beloved son of Lawrence Birch and Velma G. Birch of Phoenix Arizona.
He was a graduate of Bob Jones University, Greenville South Carolina, and held a Masters Degree from Ball State University in Muncie Indiana. He was a member of Hope Lutheran Church.
A veteran of 12 years in the U.S. Air Force , he moved to Firewood after serving four years in Germany. In August 1972 he received orders for duty in Southeast Asia and arrived in Thailand on November 16, 1972 where he was assigned to and served as a electronic warfare officer on an AC-130A gunship, with the 16th Special Ops Squadron, 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force.
On December 21, 1972 the AC-130A gunship on which he was on board during a combat mission was hit by enemy 37mm anti-aircaft fire, exploded and crashed approximately 16 kilometers west of Longan Laos. All 14 crewmen were killed, Capt Birch was reported as missing in action and declared as not having survived on January 1, 1973.
Bio information and burial provided courtesy of the Coffelt Data Base Group.
He was a graduate of Bob Jones University, Greenville South Carolina, and held a Masters Degree from Ball State University in Muncie Indiana. He was a member of Hope Lutheran Church.
A veteran of 12 years in the U.S. Air Force , he moved to Firewood after serving four years in Germany. In August 1972 he received orders for duty in Southeast Asia and arrived in Thailand on November 16, 1972 where he was assigned to and served as a electronic warfare officer on an AC-130A gunship, with the 16th Special Ops Squadron, 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force.
On December 21, 1972 the AC-130A gunship on which he was on board during a combat mission was hit by enemy 37mm anti-aircaft fire, exploded and crashed approximately 16 kilometers west of Longan Laos. All 14 crewmen were killed, Capt Birch was reported as missing in action and declared as not having survived on January 1, 1973.
Bio information and burial provided courtesy of the Coffelt Data Base Group.
Capt Joel R. Birch was the husband of Betty L. Birch, the dear father of sons, Joel R. Jr., Charles L., Gregory W. Birch; daughters, Elizabeth M., and Victoria J. Birch all of Friendswood Texas. He was the beloved son of Lawrence Birch and Velma G. Birch of Phoenix Arizona.
He was a graduate of Bob Jones University, Greenville South Carolina, and held a Masters Degree from Ball State University in Muncie Indiana. He was a member of Hope Lutheran Church.
A veteran of 12 years in the U.S. Air Force , he moved to Firewood after serving four years in Germany. In August 1972 he received orders for duty in Southeast Asia and arrived in Thailand on November 16, 1972 where he was assigned to and served as a electronic warfare officer on an AC-130A gunship, with the 16th Special Ops Squadron, 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force.
On December 21, 1972 the AC-130A gunship on which he was on board during a combat mission was hit by enemy 37mm anti-aircaft fire, exploded and crashed approximately 16 kilometers west of Longan Laos. All 14 crewmen were killed, Capt Birch was reported as missing in action and declared as not having survived on January 1, 1973.
Bio information and burial provided courtesy of the Coffelt Data Base Group.
He was a graduate of Bob Jones University, Greenville South Carolina, and held a Masters Degree from Ball State University in Muncie Indiana. He was a member of Hope Lutheran Church.
A veteran of 12 years in the U.S. Air Force , he moved to Firewood after serving four years in Germany. In August 1972 he received orders for duty in Southeast Asia and arrived in Thailand on November 16, 1972 where he was assigned to and served as a electronic warfare officer on an AC-130A gunship, with the 16th Special Ops Squadron, 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force.
On December 21, 1972 the AC-130A gunship on which he was on board during a combat mission was hit by enemy 37mm anti-aircaft fire, exploded and crashed approximately 16 kilometers west of Longan Laos. All 14 crewmen were killed, Capt Birch was reported as missing in action and declared as not having survived on January 1, 1973.
Bio information and burial provided courtesy of the Coffelt Data Base Group.
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