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| Harold W. Strickland
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| NO. 17448 • 20 Jul 1926 - 16 Apr 2000 |
Died in Paulden, AZ
Interred: West Point Cemetery, West Point, NY
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Harold Wade Strickland was born in Memphis, TN, to Carlisle and Eunice
Strickland. He was a serious student and always loved flying. "Hal"
received his pilot's license when he was just 12 years old.
During high
school, he joined the ROTC at Central High in Memphis and concurrently wrote
to his congressman requesting an appointment to the Academy. Since there had
been no prior contact, the congressman merely set up the procedure whereby Hal
could take the civil service examination in competition for an appointment.
Many months passed with no results, so he applied to the Army Air Corps for
service in 'WWII. Seven days before his induction, his congressman informed him
that he was to be an alternate appointee to West Point. Hal was inducted into
the Army Air Corps but was sent to Amherst College in Massachusetts for
entrance exam preparations rather than flight school. Hal passed all the
entrance examinations but nevertheless had to wait an additional year to
obtain the principal appointment.
Before
receiving that second appointment, he spent seven enjoyable months as a control
tower operator at Westover Field, MA. He returned to Amherst College for
further preparatory study and for officer's candidate courses at the Infantry
School at Ft. Berming. His discharge was granted in June 1946 and, one month
later, Hal finally arrived at the Academy.
He cherished
his days as a cadet. Out of 671 in the class, he graduated number 102
academically and held the rank of cadet captain, the highest rank obtainable.
His last year was particularly enjoyable as he was company commander, a
position that afforded more leadership opportunities.
After
graduation, Hal began pilot training in T-6s at Connally AFB in Waco, TX.
Over Christmas leave, he drove back to Larchmont, NY, and married Sally Pearse,
whom he had met briefly on Easter weekend at the Academy. They spent their
honeymoon traveling back to Waco via New Orleans. Hal soon was sent to Craig
AFB in Selma, AL, where he received his wings and flew the F-51 Mustang,
his other love. Together, Hal and Sally journeyed to Luke AFB, where Hal received
gunnery training near Phoenix, AZ. Sally later returned to the East Coast to
await the arrival of their first child as Hal prepared to serve with the Fifth
Air Force at Kimpo Field in Korea. There, he earned the Distinguished Flying
Cross and two Air Medals. After completing the required 100 missions, he
rotated back to the States to serve with the Air Defense Command at Niagara
Falls, NY At first, they only had F-47s, which was a slight disappointment,
but then they received the F-86 Saber jet and all was well. Hal was
appointed Flight Commander and spent hours concentrating on making his flight
the best all-weather interceptor flight in the Air Force.
Another son and a daughter were born while
the Strickland family lived in Niagara Falls. It seemed prudent
at the time to resign from the Air Force, and he did so
in 1957. The family moved to California and Hal was hired to work on
the Navaho Missile System for North American Aviation. One month later, the Navajo project was scrapped
and so was the job. A week later, Honeywell hired Hal to work in their
engineering department and another son was born. He worked there for
12 years and was promoted to Western Regional Manager. He also found time to earn
his master's degree in engineering at the University of California - Los Angeles and
flew for the Air National Guard out of Ontario, CA. His next step up
the corporate ladder required a move to Minnesota but Hal declined.
It was time to
start his own business. In 1998 , Hal decided to retire and move with Sally to
a 60-acre ranch in Arizona, near Prescott. Oh, how he loved working on
the ranch and being outdoors! One morning, two years later, he complained of
being tired. That evening, he passed away quietly, without pain or discomfort.
His 50th reunion at West Point was a month away and he eagerly had been looking
forward to seeing his buddies and sharing good times again. His children came
from all parts of the world to be with Sally and remember their dear dad. Hal
was interred at his beloved West Point with full military honors.
- Lovingly submitted by Sally P Strickland
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USMA 1950