DAVID M. PIMPLE, 1LT, USMC
David Pimple '85
Lucky Bag
From the 1985 Lucky Bag:
David M. Pimple
Sierra Vista, Arizona
Dave, the Pimp, Pimple came to the University of the Water via Sierra Vista, Arizona, on the back of a giant gila monster. Dave strode through his first three years on the track and cross country teams. With youngster year came some spare time which was filled with such activities as shaving Billy's teddy bear and boisterously staggering around the halls after long and foam filled Saturday nights. Even with his running talents, however, he still was not fast enough to evade being roped by Terri, who duly whipped him into submission. Dave made admirable attempts at appearing non-whipped, such as numerous road trips to those beautiful beer guzzling tavern wenches at Goucher and Hood colleges. But no, it was a Crazy Glue relationship, and Terri would not let Dave's sporadic attempts at freedom pull them apart.
Dave, in fine bull major style, could often be found writing papers in the wardroom late at night with one eye on the paper and one on David Letterman or Benny Hill. These late night efforts seemed to pay off as shown by the shiny stars on his collar. 1/C year Dave was shocked by the death of his gila "Bailey." No one told him he wasn't supposed to "run" him. Dave's service selection choice of Marine Air came about only after careful consideration of all career and personal factors as well as numerous National Boh's. We're all waiting to see the change from "drug induced haircut" to "high and tight." But look at the bright side Dave, you don't even have to use shampoo! I'm sure the Marine Corps will make good use of Dave's many talents. Good luck Dave.
David M. Pimple
Sierra Vista, Arizona
Dave, the Pimp, Pimple came to the University of the Water via Sierra Vista, Arizona, on the back of a giant gila monster. Dave strode through his first three years on the track and cross country teams. With youngster year came some spare time which was filled with such activities as shaving Billy's teddy bear and boisterously staggering around the halls after long and foam filled Saturday nights. Even with his running talents, however, he still was not fast enough to evade being roped by Terri, who duly whipped him into submission. Dave made admirable attempts at appearing non-whipped, such as numerous road trips to those beautiful beer guzzling tavern wenches at Goucher and Hood colleges. But no, it was a Crazy Glue relationship, and Terri would not let Dave's sporadic attempts at freedom pull them apart.
Dave, in fine bull major style, could often be found writing papers in the wardroom late at night with one eye on the paper and one on David Letterman or Benny Hill. These late night efforts seemed to pay off as shown by the shiny stars on his collar. 1/C year Dave was shocked by the death of his gila "Bailey." No one told him he wasn't supposed to "run" him. Dave's service selection choice of Marine Air came about only after careful consideration of all career and personal factors as well as numerous National Boh's. We're all waiting to see the change from "drug induced haircut" to "high and tight." But look at the bright side Dave, you don't even have to use shampoo! I'm sure the Marine Corps will make good use of Dave's many talents. Good luck Dave.
Loss
David was lost when the CH-53 helicopter he was piloting crashed near P'ohang, South Korea on March 20, 1989. Seventeen other Marines and a Navy corpsman were also killed.
Other Information
From Find A Grave:
1LT Dave M. Pimple graduated USNA in 1985 before entering the Marine Corps and being accepted into flight school. A great son, a great friend and a great pilot.
Tribute by Dave's friend and alumni, Don Selvy:
Dave attended the U.S. Naval Academy - graduating in 1985. He selected Marine Corps aviation and completed his flight training in 1986. During a high profile exercise dubbed "Team Spirit," in South Korea on March 20, 1989, his CH-53E helicopter crashed due to apparent engine malfunction.
Dave was loved by everyone that knew him. While at Buena High School (The Fighting Colts) Dave was a stand-out cross-country runner and a good friend to many people on the site.
At the Naval Academy, he was a leader with an easy-going style and a quick wit. In the Marine Corps, he was a hard worker, an excellent pilot and a good friend to everyone in the squadron.
Dave is mourned by his friends, his comrades in arms and a grateful nation.
He is buried in Arizona.
Photographs
Remembrances
From The Los Angeles Times on March 22, 1989:
Sylvia Blair, a former neighbor of Pimple while both lived in Tustin, said she remembers when the freckle-faced Marine first moved in to the house next to hers with two Marine buddies as roommates.
"There were three Marines living next door and I had two teen-age daughters, and I thought, 'Oh wonderful,'" she said. "But they were very nice and were perfect neighbors."
She and Pimple became good friends during the time she sold him a house in Santa Ana, she said.
Escrow on the home had closed in January just as the Marine was shipped to Okinawa. "It's really sad because that house was his dream, and he never got to live in it," she said. "The house was beautifully done in the back yard with a pool and spa and they (Pimple and another roommate) were really going to use it. Blair, who now lives in Corona, said Pimple loved his job and never expressed fears about his duties.
"He just loved flying, that was why he was in it," she said.
From Find A Grave on May 15, 2023:
It's been so many years since I saw you last. I still remember the fun times we all had at Kagnew Station. Your family was like part of my family as we Military Brats know. I still remember the day you passed. I miss you Davey! Cindy Garner
David is one of 3 members of the Class of 1985 on Virtual Memorial Hall.
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