ASHINGTON — Three Navy fighter jets thundering over the burial ceremony for John Anthony Feldhaus at Arlington National Cemetery yesterday were a far cry from the single-engine, propeller-driven bomber the late Navy pilot was flying when he was shot down over North Vietnam in 1966.
Forty of Feldhaus' relatives — including all four of his children — and friends attending his funeral with full military honors at the nation's premier military cemetery appreciated the sentiment of Twenty First Century Navy honoring a fellow warrior that flew in days gone by. "It was exceptional — the best thing they could have done,'' said Jeff Feldhaus of Houston, one of John Feldhaus' sons. John Feldhaus of Lawrenceburg had just turned 28 when his A-1H Skyraider was hit by enemy fire over Thanh Hoa province as he was returning from a bombing mission. The military listed him as missing in action and promoted him to Commander before declaring him dead after about a decade. His body remained in the 20-foot crater from the crash until it was recovered 35 years later, and his siblings and children were told of the discovery that DNA testing had positively identified the remains as the naval aviator. Feldhaus was the second Tennessean to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery in less than two months. Lieutenant Commander Otis Vincent Tolbert, a Navy intelligence officer born in Millington, near Memphis, and killed in the September 11 attack on the Pentagon, was buried September 27, 2001. Pamela Smith of Houston, the oldest of John Feldhaus' children, was 8 years old when her father was shot down. She said the funeral ''brought back the loss.'' She and her siblings already are older than her father was at his death. ''What I remember a lot is missing him and wondering where he was and what he was doing,'' she said. Amanda Rose, who was only 4 when her father died, said it was an honor to be at the funeral. ''I really don't know much about my father — just what other family members have told me,'' she said. The services began with a Mass of Christian burial in a cemetery chapel and included a ceremonial honor guard of a 23-man Navy rifle platoon, a colors unit and a band. Six sailors were pallbearers and made a precision drill out of moving the flag-draped casket from the hearse to the chapel. After Mass, the mourners and honor guard accompanied a caisson pulled by six gray horses carrying the casket to a grave site under bright sun and brisk northern wind. The short service featured the band playing The Navy Hymn, the fly-over, three volleys from a seven-man rifle squad and a bugler playing taps. The folded American flag was presented along with a note of condolence from Navy Secretary Gordon R. England to Rose and John A. Feldhaus Jr., another of the late aviator's sons. Both now live in Trenton, New Jersey. Henry Feldhaus, a cousin and former mayor of Shelbyville, said the family had always held out some slim hope the naval aviator was alive until his remains were positively identified. ''He basically helped preserve our freedom — like the boys are doing today,'' he said.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Filed for intro on 01/14/2002
TENNESSEE HOUSE
JOINT RESOLUTION 606
A RESOLUTION to honor the memory of Commander John Anthony Feldhaus and his meritorious service to the United States.
WHEREAS, our nation was conceived by individuals who were willing to sacrifice their personal safety and concerns to ensure our individual and collective freedom, and the Volunteer State is especially proud to be the home of so many valiant men and women who have performed above and beyond the call of duty; and
WHEREAS, thousands of Tennesseans have continued this time-honored tradition of volunteerism through service in the United States Navy; and
WHEREAS, John Anthony Feldhaus was one such estimable Tennessean who served with courage and conviction; a native of Lawrenceburg, "Jack" Feldhaus was wholly devoted to his Nation and countrymen, and he made the ultimate sacrifice while serving as a Naval Aviator; and
WHEREAS, having been a Pilot in the United States Navy for several years at the onset of the Vietnam War, Lieutenant Feldhaus could have completed his tenure as an instructor in a stateside flight school, but he made the patriotic decision to volunteer his vast talents to be utilized in Vietnam; and
WHEREAS, while returning to the USS Oriskany after a bombing mission, Lieutenant Feldhaus, as was his nature, went above and beyond the call of duty to complete an elective attack, utilizing his excess ordinance; his A-1H was struck by enemy fire and went down, and Lieutenant Feldhaus was thereafter declared missing in action; and
WHEREAS, promoted to Commander while classified MIA, John Anthony Feldhaus was eventually presumed lost; and WHEREAS, although it initially appeared that Vietnam would remain his final resting place, the body of Commander Feldhaus was recently located and positively identified by the Navy, allowing a return to his native land for burial; and
WHEREAS, Commander Feldhaus has long occupied a revered position in the history of our Nation and its Armed Forces, and he now rests in the hallowed ground of Arlington National Cemetery among his fellow courageous patriots who gave the ultimate sacrifice in defense of current and future citizens of their Nation; and
WHEREAS, Commander Feldhaus served with great bravery and ability and performed his duties with the utmost skill, dedication, and professionalism; his service could only be categorized as outstanding and he has earned all honor and recognition that we could possibly bestow; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE SENATE CONCURRING,
That we join with the family of Commander John Anthony Feldhaus to honor
his memory, reflecting fondly on his selfless devotion, unsurpassed moral courage, and meritorious service to the United States Navy, and we express our pride in, and gratitude for, his supreme contributions to this State and our Nation.
GOIN'HOME - a painting by Lawrenceburg native, Lynn King, inspired by a photo taken by world renouned photographer and Lawrenceburg native, Jimmy Moore. The work represents the best effort to fulfill a promise made by Moore in a conversation held long prior to the death of his friend, Jackie Feldhaus.
Jackie's older brother Larry Feldhaus chronicled the life of his beloved brother on these story boards for the Memorial Day presentation in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. on Memorial Day, May 30, 2011, at the Lawrenceburg Administration Building. Larry Feldhaus was the featured speaker at the event. Larry was introduced by Jackie's life long friend, Jimmy Moore, Lawrenceburg resident and renowned photographer.
For more coverage visit this site developed and maintained by Larry Feldhaus; http://www.lfeldhaus.com/cmdrjackfeldhaususn/
|
 |
John A.(Jackie) Feldhaus
Commander, ATKRON 152, CARRIER AIR WING 16,
USS ORISKANY - U. S. Navy
03 Oct., 1938 - 08 Oct., 1966
Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, USA
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MEMORIAL DAY
Tribute to those
THAT GAVE ALL
Memorial Day is the important day that commemorates U.S. soldiers who died while in military service. None can recall one so significant locally as this one upcoming because of the unique circumstances of revisiting a local Vietnam Veteran's body being returned after 35 years of being recorded as missing in action.
John Feldhaus of Lawrenceburg had just turned 28 when his A-1H Skyraider Fighter was hit by enemy fire over Thanh Hoa province as he was returning from a bombing mission. The military listed him as missing in action and promoted him to Commander before declaring him dead after about a decade. His body remained in the 20-foot crater from the crash until it was recovered 35 years later.
The name Feldhaus is one which is forever etched with fond memories that reach back to those precious days of youth here in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. Throughout those brief years, few if any, gave much thought to anything beyond the struggle of local Catholic kids dealing with strict nuns
at Sacred Heart or Protestant kids challenged by the determined teachers at Old Public and L.C.H.S.
Yet, all grew up and eventually looked back with gratitude on the that measured discipline coupled with parental allegiance to the nuns and teachers as our most vital lifelong resource. John Anthony(Jackie) Feldhaus was but one of countless Lawrence County kids that was a benefactor of growing up in this great place.
Jackie Feldhaus went on to an even higher challenge where discipline is a given, The United States Military. Jackie would go where he'd face death daily flying his A-1H Skyraider propeller driven Fighter to inflict maximum damage to the enemy in North Vietnam. He would not reach his 29th birthday.
His life would end in the cockpit of his Skyraider just ten years after graduating from LCHS many thousands of miles from those living safe and secure here in Lawrence County and the entire nation.
The Tennessee House of Representatives would honor John Anthony(Jackie) Feldhaus with an official Resolution which states in part:
A RESOLUTION to honor the memory of Commander John Anthony Feldhaus and his meritorious service to the United States.
WHEREAS, our nation was conceived by individuals who were willing to sacrifice their personal safety and concerns to ensure our individual and collective freedom, and the Volunteer State is especially proud to be the home of so many valiant men and women who have performed above and beyond the call of duty . . . . . . .
Jack Feldhaus' older brother Lawrence(Larry) Feldhaus was the featured speaker at the recent Memorial Day event at The Lawrenceburg City Administration Building. The elder Feldhaus shared his personal memories of his younger brother throughout his brother's life; those brief 28 years from beginning to end.
Close friends of both the brothers especially enjoyed recollections from those days growing up with Brothers Feldhaus. The tenacity of Jack was apparent even then. His most formidable challenge was to overcome his big brother physically who was two years his senior, thirty pounds heavier, and a foot taller. There is no documentation he ever won, but there's no record either that he ever gave up or stopped trying.
In time, who gets his turn on the sled or use of the football is no longer a priority. Adulthood brings with it laughter and joy recalling the turf wars of childhood. On Memorial Day here in Lawrenceburg, brother Larry set the record straight about having a little brother with the courage of a Pit Bull that loved God, his family, his Country, his fellowman, and definitely his big brother. |
|
| |
