Retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. Sy Elton Mendenhall catapulted and flew west Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014.
He was born on May 8, 1919, in Sidell, Illinois to Sy and Grace Mendenhall.
As a child, he helped in the family farming business and endured the Great Depression. He related later in life that while there was little money, they always had plenty of food because they raised most of what they ate. In the winter, he would trap muskrats for their fur and sell them to generate cash. Upon graduation from Sidell High School, Sy entered the University of Illinois where he played football and wrestled in addition to attending classes. He also took a job on campus to help pay his way in school. After completing two years of college, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an Aviation Cadet. After passing initial training in St. Louis, he was sent to Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida for flight training. Upon completion of his training, he was awarded his Wings of Gold and commissioned an Ensign. Though not to his liking, he was retained in Pensacola as an Instructor Pilot as the Navy was expanding its pilot corps in 1941. One consolation prize for this duty was meeting his future and life-long companion on a blind date. He would soon marry Gloria Bergin of Pensacola on August 8, 1942 and begin their life journey together. But first, there was a War to be fought and won in the Pacific and Sy would soon find himself in the middle of it. In early 1943, he was assigned to VF-6 flying the F6-F Hellcat off of aircraft carriers. He was initially the wingman for the Squadron Commander, Medal of Honor recipient Commander Edward “Butch” O’Hare. They soon embarked on a deployment aboard the USS Independence for the invasion of Marcus Island and attacked enemy positions on Wake Island. During the cruise, he was elevated to leading O’Hare’s Second Division for the Wake attack. Sy would complete this cruise and one other deployment during the War before ending it with a second tour as an instructor pilot. It was during his second cruise that his Hellcat suffered something known as a “cold cat”, a lack of sufficient power for the catapult and this resulted in his aircraft being tossed off the left side of the ship into the Pacific Ocean. Even though his sliding canopy slammed shut upon impact with the water, he was able to muster the strength on his second attempt to open it and escaped the sinking Hellcat. He was picked up by an escort destroyer and later returned to his ship. After the war, Sy decided to continue his military career and spent several assignments overseas in such places as modern day Morocco and Guam. It was while he was serving as the Commander of a photo reconnaissance squadron (VAP-61) that he participated in the International Geophysical Year and took some of the first aerial photographs of Mendenhall Glacier in Alaska. Not one to pass a potentially dangerous job to someone else, he personally commanded a CIA requested “recon” flight over Indonesia where the government was fighting Communist insurgents. During this flight, his unarmed aircraft came under fire and the right wing of the aircraft was hit, narrowly missing the engine. However, the large hole just outboard of the engine made the aircraft extremely difficult to fly and it was clear they would not be able to make it back to their base. Flying fast and low, they found a runway under construction in the southern Philippine Islands and made a high speed landing that blew tires and caused the workers on the ground to scurry clear of the runway. Commander Mendenhall ended his Navy career as Executive Officer of NAS Memphis in 1963. Upon retirement, he started his second career which was his lifelong goal: to own his own farm. In 1954, while still on active duty, he purchased a small farm near Oil Trough. Upon Sy’s retirement from the Navy, the family moved to the farm and raised Aberdeen Angus cattle for many years. Years of hard work on his part and that of his family resulted in a generous herd that provided a living for the family. In addition, Sy started a successful Ag Flying service that was a natural fit for his flying skills and served many farmers in Independence and Jackson Counties for 15 years. Sy was devoted to his community, working for infrastructure improvements such as roads and a rural water system. He teamed up with several local famers to attack a flooding problem with a local stream to establish the Departee Creek Watershed Improvement District, which is still active today. Believing in service before self, he was instrumental in getting signatures on petitions for a Constitutional Amendment for Term Limits in Arkansas. He truly believed our lawmakers should be “Citizen Legislators, not Career Politicians” as his bumper sticker stated for so many years. His service to the Independence County Conservation Board spanned from 1987 until 1999. Sy also served on the Jackson-Independence Regional Water Board for a number of years, having been instrumental in getting safe, reliable water to hundreds of users in the rural parts of both counties.
He was preceded by his parents, Sy and Grace Mendenhall and his sister, Pauline France.
He is survived by his wife, Gloria, six children, fourteen grandchildren and five great grandchildren. His children include Carol and her husband Steve Smaha of Houston, TX, Mark and Claudia Mendenhall of New Brunfels, TX, Matthew and Leigh Ann Mendenhall of Springdale, AR, Connie and her husband Dan Harn of Washington, D.C., Michael and Susan Mendenhall of Plano, TX, and Myles and Katherine Mendenhall of Dallas, TX.
Arrangements were by Jackson's Newport Funeral Home. Graveside services with military honors were held at Blue Springs Cemetery in Newark.
Jonesboro Sun obits. September 5, 2014
He was born on May 8, 1919, in Sidell, Illinois to Sy and Grace Mendenhall.
As a child, he helped in the family farming business and endured the Great Depression. He related later in life that while there was little money, they always had plenty of food because they raised most of what they ate. In the winter, he would trap muskrats for their fur and sell them to generate cash. Upon graduation from Sidell High School, Sy entered the University of Illinois where he played football and wrestled in addition to attending classes. He also took a job on campus to help pay his way in school. After completing two years of college, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an Aviation Cadet. After passing initial training in St. Louis, he was sent to Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida for flight training. Upon completion of his training, he was awarded his Wings of Gold and commissioned an Ensign. Though not to his liking, he was retained in Pensacola as an Instructor Pilot as the Navy was expanding its pilot corps in 1941. One consolation prize for this duty was meeting his future and life-long companion on a blind date. He would soon marry Gloria Bergin of Pensacola on August 8, 1942 and begin their life journey together. But first, there was a War to be fought and won in the Pacific and Sy would soon find himself in the middle of it. In early 1943, he was assigned to VF-6 flying the F6-F Hellcat off of aircraft carriers. He was initially the wingman for the Squadron Commander, Medal of Honor recipient Commander Edward “Butch” O’Hare. They soon embarked on a deployment aboard the USS Independence for the invasion of Marcus Island and attacked enemy positions on Wake Island. During the cruise, he was elevated to leading O’Hare’s Second Division for the Wake attack. Sy would complete this cruise and one other deployment during the War before ending it with a second tour as an instructor pilot. It was during his second cruise that his Hellcat suffered something known as a “cold cat”, a lack of sufficient power for the catapult and this resulted in his aircraft being tossed off the left side of the ship into the Pacific Ocean. Even though his sliding canopy slammed shut upon impact with the water, he was able to muster the strength on his second attempt to open it and escaped the sinking Hellcat. He was picked up by an escort destroyer and later returned to his ship. After the war, Sy decided to continue his military career and spent several assignments overseas in such places as modern day Morocco and Guam. It was while he was serving as the Commander of a photo reconnaissance squadron (VAP-61) that he participated in the International Geophysical Year and took some of the first aerial photographs of Mendenhall Glacier in Alaska. Not one to pass a potentially dangerous job to someone else, he personally commanded a CIA requested “recon” flight over Indonesia where the government was fighting Communist insurgents. During this flight, his unarmed aircraft came under fire and the right wing of the aircraft was hit, narrowly missing the engine. However, the large hole just outboard of the engine made the aircraft extremely difficult to fly and it was clear they would not be able to make it back to their base. Flying fast and low, they found a runway under construction in the southern Philippine Islands and made a high speed landing that blew tires and caused the workers on the ground to scurry clear of the runway. Commander Mendenhall ended his Navy career as Executive Officer of NAS Memphis in 1963. Upon retirement, he started his second career which was his lifelong goal: to own his own farm. In 1954, while still on active duty, he purchased a small farm near Oil Trough. Upon Sy’s retirement from the Navy, the family moved to the farm and raised Aberdeen Angus cattle for many years. Years of hard work on his part and that of his family resulted in a generous herd that provided a living for the family. In addition, Sy started a successful Ag Flying service that was a natural fit for his flying skills and served many farmers in Independence and Jackson Counties for 15 years. Sy was devoted to his community, working for infrastructure improvements such as roads and a rural water system. He teamed up with several local famers to attack a flooding problem with a local stream to establish the Departee Creek Watershed Improvement District, which is still active today. Believing in service before self, he was instrumental in getting signatures on petitions for a Constitutional Amendment for Term Limits in Arkansas. He truly believed our lawmakers should be “Citizen Legislators, not Career Politicians” as his bumper sticker stated for so many years. His service to the Independence County Conservation Board spanned from 1987 until 1999. Sy also served on the Jackson-Independence Regional Water Board for a number of years, having been instrumental in getting safe, reliable water to hundreds of users in the rural parts of both counties.
He was preceded by his parents, Sy and Grace Mendenhall and his sister, Pauline France.
He is survived by his wife, Gloria, six children, fourteen grandchildren and five great grandchildren. His children include Carol and her husband Steve Smaha of Houston, TX, Mark and Claudia Mendenhall of New Brunfels, TX, Matthew and Leigh Ann Mendenhall of Springdale, AR, Connie and her husband Dan Harn of Washington, D.C., Michael and Susan Mendenhall of Plano, TX, and Myles and Katherine Mendenhall of Dallas, TX.
Arrangements were by Jackson's Newport Funeral Home. Graveside services with military honors were held at Blue Springs Cemetery in Newark.
Jonesboro Sun obits. September 5, 2014
Retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. Sy Elton Mendenhall catapulted and flew west Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014.
He was born on May 8, 1919, in Sidell, Illinois to Sy and Grace Mendenhall.
As a child, he helped in the family farming business and endured the Great Depression. He related later in life that while there was little money, they always had plenty of food because they raised most of what they ate. In the winter, he would trap muskrats for their fur and sell them to generate cash. Upon graduation from Sidell High School, Sy entered the University of Illinois where he played football and wrestled in addition to attending classes. He also took a job on campus to help pay his way in school. After completing two years of college, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an Aviation Cadet. After passing initial training in St. Louis, he was sent to Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida for flight training. Upon completion of his training, he was awarded his Wings of Gold and commissioned an Ensign. Though not to his liking, he was retained in Pensacola as an Instructor Pilot as the Navy was expanding its pilot corps in 1941. One consolation prize for this duty was meeting his future and life-long companion on a blind date. He would soon marry Gloria Bergin of Pensacola on August 8, 1942 and begin their life journey together. But first, there was a War to be fought and won in the Pacific and Sy would soon find himself in the middle of it. In early 1943, he was assigned to VF-6 flying the F6-F Hellcat off of aircraft carriers. He was initially the wingman for the Squadron Commander, Medal of Honor recipient Commander Edward “Butch” O’Hare. They soon embarked on a deployment aboard the USS Independence for the invasion of Marcus Island and attacked enemy positions on Wake Island. During the cruise, he was elevated to leading O’Hare’s Second Division for the Wake attack. Sy would complete this cruise and one other deployment during the War before ending it with a second tour as an instructor pilot. It was during his second cruise that his Hellcat suffered something known as a “cold cat”, a lack of sufficient power for the catapult and this resulted in his aircraft being tossed off the left side of the ship into the Pacific Ocean. Even though his sliding canopy slammed shut upon impact with the water, he was able to muster the strength on his second attempt to open it and escaped the sinking Hellcat. He was picked up by an escort destroyer and later returned to his ship. After the war, Sy decided to continue his military career and spent several assignments overseas in such places as modern day Morocco and Guam. It was while he was serving as the Commander of a photo reconnaissance squadron (VAP-61) that he participated in the International Geophysical Year and took some of the first aerial photographs of Mendenhall Glacier in Alaska. Not one to pass a potentially dangerous job to someone else, he personally commanded a CIA requested “recon” flight over Indonesia where the government was fighting Communist insurgents. During this flight, his unarmed aircraft came under fire and the right wing of the aircraft was hit, narrowly missing the engine. However, the large hole just outboard of the engine made the aircraft extremely difficult to fly and it was clear they would not be able to make it back to their base. Flying fast and low, they found a runway under construction in the southern Philippine Islands and made a high speed landing that blew tires and caused the workers on the ground to scurry clear of the runway. Commander Mendenhall ended his Navy career as Executive Officer of NAS Memphis in 1963. Upon retirement, he started his second career which was his lifelong goal: to own his own farm. In 1954, while still on active duty, he purchased a small farm near Oil Trough. Upon Sy’s retirement from the Navy, the family moved to the farm and raised Aberdeen Angus cattle for many years. Years of hard work on his part and that of his family resulted in a generous herd that provided a living for the family. In addition, Sy started a successful Ag Flying service that was a natural fit for his flying skills and served many farmers in Independence and Jackson Counties for 15 years. Sy was devoted to his community, working for infrastructure improvements such as roads and a rural water system. He teamed up with several local famers to attack a flooding problem with a local stream to establish the Departee Creek Watershed Improvement District, which is still active today. Believing in service before self, he was instrumental in getting signatures on petitions for a Constitutional Amendment for Term Limits in Arkansas. He truly believed our lawmakers should be “Citizen Legislators, not Career Politicians” as his bumper sticker stated for so many years. His service to the Independence County Conservation Board spanned from 1987 until 1999. Sy also served on the Jackson-Independence Regional Water Board for a number of years, having been instrumental in getting safe, reliable water to hundreds of users in the rural parts of both counties.
He was preceded by his parents, Sy and Grace Mendenhall and his sister, Pauline France.
He is survived by his wife, Gloria, six children, fourteen grandchildren and five great grandchildren. His children include Carol and her husband Steve Smaha of Houston, TX, Mark and Claudia Mendenhall of New Brunfels, TX, Matthew and Leigh Ann Mendenhall of Springdale, AR, Connie and her husband Dan Harn of Washington, D.C., Michael and Susan Mendenhall of Plano, TX, and Myles and Katherine Mendenhall of Dallas, TX.
Arrangements were by Jackson's Newport Funeral Home. Graveside services with military honors were held at Blue Springs Cemetery in Newark.
Jonesboro Sun obits. September 5, 2014
He was born on May 8, 1919, in Sidell, Illinois to Sy and Grace Mendenhall.
As a child, he helped in the family farming business and endured the Great Depression. He related later in life that while there was little money, they always had plenty of food because they raised most of what they ate. In the winter, he would trap muskrats for their fur and sell them to generate cash. Upon graduation from Sidell High School, Sy entered the University of Illinois where he played football and wrestled in addition to attending classes. He also took a job on campus to help pay his way in school. After completing two years of college, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an Aviation Cadet. After passing initial training in St. Louis, he was sent to Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida for flight training. Upon completion of his training, he was awarded his Wings of Gold and commissioned an Ensign. Though not to his liking, he was retained in Pensacola as an Instructor Pilot as the Navy was expanding its pilot corps in 1941. One consolation prize for this duty was meeting his future and life-long companion on a blind date. He would soon marry Gloria Bergin of Pensacola on August 8, 1942 and begin their life journey together. But first, there was a War to be fought and won in the Pacific and Sy would soon find himself in the middle of it. In early 1943, he was assigned to VF-6 flying the F6-F Hellcat off of aircraft carriers. He was initially the wingman for the Squadron Commander, Medal of Honor recipient Commander Edward “Butch” O’Hare. They soon embarked on a deployment aboard the USS Independence for the invasion of Marcus Island and attacked enemy positions on Wake Island. During the cruise, he was elevated to leading O’Hare’s Second Division for the Wake attack. Sy would complete this cruise and one other deployment during the War before ending it with a second tour as an instructor pilot. It was during his second cruise that his Hellcat suffered something known as a “cold cat”, a lack of sufficient power for the catapult and this resulted in his aircraft being tossed off the left side of the ship into the Pacific Ocean. Even though his sliding canopy slammed shut upon impact with the water, he was able to muster the strength on his second attempt to open it and escaped the sinking Hellcat. He was picked up by an escort destroyer and later returned to his ship. After the war, Sy decided to continue his military career and spent several assignments overseas in such places as modern day Morocco and Guam. It was while he was serving as the Commander of a photo reconnaissance squadron (VAP-61) that he participated in the International Geophysical Year and took some of the first aerial photographs of Mendenhall Glacier in Alaska. Not one to pass a potentially dangerous job to someone else, he personally commanded a CIA requested “recon” flight over Indonesia where the government was fighting Communist insurgents. During this flight, his unarmed aircraft came under fire and the right wing of the aircraft was hit, narrowly missing the engine. However, the large hole just outboard of the engine made the aircraft extremely difficult to fly and it was clear they would not be able to make it back to their base. Flying fast and low, they found a runway under construction in the southern Philippine Islands and made a high speed landing that blew tires and caused the workers on the ground to scurry clear of the runway. Commander Mendenhall ended his Navy career as Executive Officer of NAS Memphis in 1963. Upon retirement, he started his second career which was his lifelong goal: to own his own farm. In 1954, while still on active duty, he purchased a small farm near Oil Trough. Upon Sy’s retirement from the Navy, the family moved to the farm and raised Aberdeen Angus cattle for many years. Years of hard work on his part and that of his family resulted in a generous herd that provided a living for the family. In addition, Sy started a successful Ag Flying service that was a natural fit for his flying skills and served many farmers in Independence and Jackson Counties for 15 years. Sy was devoted to his community, working for infrastructure improvements such as roads and a rural water system. He teamed up with several local famers to attack a flooding problem with a local stream to establish the Departee Creek Watershed Improvement District, which is still active today. Believing in service before self, he was instrumental in getting signatures on petitions for a Constitutional Amendment for Term Limits in Arkansas. He truly believed our lawmakers should be “Citizen Legislators, not Career Politicians” as his bumper sticker stated for so many years. His service to the Independence County Conservation Board spanned from 1987 until 1999. Sy also served on the Jackson-Independence Regional Water Board for a number of years, having been instrumental in getting safe, reliable water to hundreds of users in the rural parts of both counties.
He was preceded by his parents, Sy and Grace Mendenhall and his sister, Pauline France.
He is survived by his wife, Gloria, six children, fourteen grandchildren and five great grandchildren. His children include Carol and her husband Steve Smaha of Houston, TX, Mark and Claudia Mendenhall of New Brunfels, TX, Matthew and Leigh Ann Mendenhall of Springdale, AR, Connie and her husband Dan Harn of Washington, D.C., Michael and Susan Mendenhall of Plano, TX, and Myles and Katherine Mendenhall of Dallas, TX.
Arrangements were by Jackson's Newport Funeral Home. Graveside services with military honors were held at Blue Springs Cemetery in Newark.
Jonesboro Sun obits. September 5, 2014
Family Members
Siblings
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
