![]() |
|
![]() |
|||||||||||
|
IN MEMORIUM
COLONEL KENNETH WHEELER RAWSON
It is with much sadness we report the passing of our Battalion Executive Officer Colonel Kenneth W. Rawson, USA Retired. Ken passed away on June 1st 2010 in Tucson Arizona. Colonel Rawson would have been 83 on July 30th.
He served briefly as Battalion Commander during the month of June 1965 when command was assumed by LTC Kenneth R. Symmes. Major Rawson then assumed the duties of Executive Officer. As Executive Officer, Ken was instrumental in the forming and training of the battalion at Fort Huachuca Arizona and served as Troop Commander on board the USNS Upshur during our trip to Vietnam in October 1966.
Ken joined the Merchant Marine in 1944 and served aboard the cargo ship SS Hugh M. Smith until it was bombed and sunk in Manila Bay. Ken was wounded and blown off the ship. He later joined the Army as an Infantry Officer and served in Korea with the 25th Infantry Division. His illustrious career which spanned three wars, included service in the Dalmatian Alps as part of a UN effort to patrol the border between Yugoslavia and Italy, service as an advisor to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek and MAAG Advisor for three years to the Shah of Iran. While an advisor to Chiang Kai-shek, Ken was introduced to the generalissimo’s wife Madame Chiang, who was a well established artist. Ken was honored by her and presented with one of her paintings. Colonel Rawson went on to serve in Vietnam and later retired from the service. Among his numerous decorations are five Purple Hearts.
In addition to his distinguished military career, Ken was a prominent figure in the International Rotary Organization. Burial will be at East Lawn Palms Cemetery, Tucson Arizona. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
FOR SALE 459th Signal Battalion Reunion Mug
The mug costs $12.00 plus $5.00 shipping. Supplies are limited. Contact Howie Bartholf at howardsp5@aol.com _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
|
||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||