Eugene Drew (Gene) Robinett |
| Posted 2008-09-04 by Pat Wilson |
| The Kingman Daily Miner, Kingman, Arizona June 02, 2006 Eugene D. Robinett - Colonel Eugene Drew "Gene" ROBINETT (USAF retired) was born in Los Angeles on Nov. 25, 1931, and passed away on May 21, 2006, in El Paso, Texas. Gene and his parents moved to Mohave County in 1933 and he spent his early childhood in Yucca while his father worked at the Boriana Mine in the south Hualapai Mountains. In 1942, he moved closer to Kingman when his parents purchased the Hunt homestead, located about three miles northwest of Kingman. He attended local schools and graduated from Mohave County Union High School in 1950 with a scholarship to the University of Arizona. He earned a BS-BPA from the University of Arizona and an MBA from Arizona State University. He married the former Mary Elizabeth (Betsie) DAEUBLE in 1956. While at the U of A, he joined the ROTC and upon graduation joined the Air Force. He graduated from pilot training in 1956 and spent most of his 28-year Air Force career in assignments related to flying. During his career he accumulated more than 5,100 flying hours and flew 10 different airplanes, including the AC-47, B-52, F-86, F-100 and C-141. He was a decorated fighter pilot; aircraft commander/B-52; AC-47 gunship pilot in Vietnam; Wing Commander at the 437th Military Airlift Wing, Charleston AFB-SC; Deputy Director, Maintenance and Supply, USAF HQ at the Pentagon; Director of Air Operations, Allied Forces Northern Europe (NATO) in Oslo, Norway, and personal pilot for former President Lyndon B. Johnson. In November 1966, he volunteered for assignment to Southeast Asia and received an assignment at Nha Trang, Vietnam. He went on to log over 250 combat missions in the AC-47 gunship, known as Puff the Magic Dragon. In November 1967, he returned to the States and continued to serve in many different capacities at numerous locations. His military awards and decorations include two Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Meritorious Service Medals, 12 Air Medals, two Air Force Commendation Medals and a Combat Readiness Medal. He retired a full colonel in 1983, and joined and became a partner in a consulting firm, Cypress International, in Alexandria, Va. He retired once again in 1990, and he and Betsie moved to El Paso, "the land of no hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes or floods and advertises 360 sunshine days a year." He was a member of the Sierra Club and Order of Daedalians, the National Fraternity of Military Pilots. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dalton and Ethel Robinett, and sister Janet PYNCHON. He is survived by his wife, Betsie; daughters Kathy THOMPSON (Mike) and Kimberly MORRELL (Tim); sons, Troy Robinett (Denise) and Todd Robinett; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He is also survived by one brother, Dalton Robinett (Jewel); and three sisters, Ruby Bergbauer (Frank), Mary Haizlip (Bernie) and Susan Thomas (Steve); as well as numerous nephews; nieces and cousins. Visitation was held at Sunset Funeral Home-West in El Paso. Funeral Mass was held at St. Patrick Cathedral. A burial ceremony was held at the Ft. Bliss National Cemetery in El Paso, with full military honors. See Also: Find A Grave |
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