JERALD L. PINNEKER, LTJG, USN
Jerald Pinneker '63
Lucky Bag
From the 1963 Lucky Bag:
JERALD LEE PINNEKER
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
While attending high school in the home of five breweries, Jerry spent most of his free time at the nearby airport, letting his interest in aviation grow and grow. After not making the Academy on his first try, Jerry joined the Naval Reserve and went into submarines. At the same time he attended an extension of the University of Wisconsin, where the law made him a part of the local ROTC unit. This year proved well spent for he received an appointment through his reserve unit. After plebe year Jerry began taking "dealer" training by selling Logs, Drag Handbooks, and WRNV goods. He was always encouraging someone to requisition from his graduation pay for some blue and gold wares. Sports-wise Jerry was standard equipment of the cross country team for the first two years, but later seasons saw him getting involved in company and battalion sports of higher prestige. He especially enjoyed 2/c summer with its flying by day and other activities by night. Naturally, Jerry's plans lie in Navy Air. We know he'll succeed in this and any other venture he undertakes. Our best wishes are with him in his future.
JERALD LEE PINNEKER
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
While attending high school in the home of five breweries, Jerry spent most of his free time at the nearby airport, letting his interest in aviation grow and grow. After not making the Academy on his first try, Jerry joined the Naval Reserve and went into submarines. At the same time he attended an extension of the University of Wisconsin, where the law made him a part of the local ROTC unit. This year proved well spent for he received an appointment through his reserve unit. After plebe year Jerry began taking "dealer" training by selling Logs, Drag Handbooks, and WRNV goods. He was always encouraging someone to requisition from his graduation pay for some blue and gold wares. Sports-wise Jerry was standard equipment of the cross country team for the first two years, but later seasons saw him getting involved in company and battalion sports of higher prestige. He especially enjoyed 2/c summer with its flying by day and other activities by night. Naturally, Jerry's plans lie in Navy Air. We know he'll succeed in this and any other venture he undertakes. Our best wishes are with him in his future.
Loss
From USNA Class of 1963:
LT(jg) Pinneker, in his A-4C aircraft, had just completed a successful napalm run when he was hit with automatic weapons fire 30 miles SW of Saigon. His plane disintegrated and crashed into the jungle canopy in Dinh Tuong Province, near the city of My Tho. An investigation into the crash site could not determine whether it was anti-aircraft or well-placed ground fire due to the ensuing explosion.
He was survived by his wife, Kay, his mother, Esther, and a brother, Reinold. (Information from May 1965 issue of Shipmate.)
Remembrances
From USNA Class of 1963:
This was received from Jerry's brother:
Jerry was one of those rare individuals who knew from an early age what he wanted to do. And, all of his energies were focused on that objective: to fly.Born in North Platte, NE, he moved with his family to Scottsbluff, NE when he was about 6 years old. His father had an old Aeronica C-3 and every Sunday morning was spent at the airport, most times with my dad strapping the two of us into the rear seat of the plane and off we went...Jerry just loving the flight while I, his older brother, hanging onto and using the barf bag.
In addition to those Sundays in the sky, Jerry's Uncle (Harry W. Pinneker) was a WWII naval aviator who moved to Scottsbluff and brought his old Navy two-seater trainer with him and, until the cost of fuel forced him to sell it, Jerry would fly as "co-pilot" with his uncle.
The family moved to Milwaukee in 1953 and there at Billy Mitchell Field, Jerry discovered Civil Air Patrol. He spent most of his non-school hours involved with CAP.
After HS graduation, Jerry was Congressman Clement Zablocki's alternate appointee for the Academy and that's when he joined the Reserves where, a year later, he applied for an appointment from both the Congressman and the Reserves.
He won both and elected to enter the Academy with his Reserve appointment so that Zablocki's alternate appointee would be able to go.
Obituary
From Military Hall of Valor:
Early Life
Jerald Lee Pinneker was born on 29 September 1940 in North Platte, NE. He moved with his family to Scottsbluff, NE, when he was about 6 years old. His father had an old Aeronica C-3 and every Sunday morning was spent at the airport, most times with his dad strapping him and his older brother into the rear seat of the plane and off they went. Jerry just loved the flights while his older brother was hanging on and using the barf bag.
In addition to those Sundays in the sky with his dad, Jerry's Uncle (Harry W. Pinneker) was a WWII Naval Aviator who moved to Scottsbluff and brought his old Navy two-seater trainer with him and, until the cost of fuel forced him to sell it, Jerry would fly as "co-pilot" with his uncle.
The family moved to Milwaukee, WI, in 1953 and there, at Billy Mitchell Field, Jerry discovered the Civil Air Patrol. He spent most of his non-school hours involved with CAP.
Jerry was one of those rare individuals who knew from an early age what he wanted to do. And, all of his energies were focused on that objective: to fly.
U.S. Naval Academy
After graduation from high school, Jerry was Congressman Clement Zablocki's alternate appointee for the U.S. Naval Academy and that's when he joined the Navy Reserves where, a year later, he applied for an appointment from both the Congressman and the Reserves. He won both and elected to enter the Academy with his Reserve appointment so that Zablocki's alternate appointee would be able to go.
Upon his graduation from the Academy with the Class of 1963, Jerry was awarded the Mac Short Award in Aviation at as the most promising future Naval aviator:
"The name of the graduating midshipman who has displayed the most marked interest and practical aptitude for a career as a naval aviator will be inscribed annually upon a plaque presented by The Mac Short Memorial Foundation. In addition, such midshipman will be awarded a prize of a wrist watch, suitably engraved. The midshipman receiving this award must be physically qualified, temperamentally adapted, and must have submitted an official request for flight training with the intention of qualifying as a naval aviator."
Of course, Jerry completed flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator.
South Vietnam
On 6 March 1966, the USS Ticonderoga replaced the USS Kitty Hawk at Yankee Station. The war was escalating to the point that there were 95,000+ Naval men directly supporting the efforts in Southeast Asia, and Navy pilots were tasked with endless missions in both North and South Vietnam.
On 20 March 1966, the Ticonderoga pilots flew a total of 106 sorties -- most in support of US and ARVN ground troops west of Saigon. The South Vietnamese Army launched Operation Cuu Long 15 encountering a large NVA Battalion, and requested help from the US bombers to help destroy key enemy embankments.
LTJG Pinneker, in his A-4C Skyhawk aircraft, had just completed a successful napalm run when he was hit with automatic weapons fire 30 miles SW of Saigon. His plane disintegrated and crashed into the jungle canopy in Dinh Tuong Province, near the city of My Tho. An investigation into the crash site could not determine whether it was anti-aircraft or well-placed ground fire due to the ensuing explosion.
Three Navy pilots were shot down on 20 March, with 2 ejecting safely. Jerry was not one of them.
Death and Burial
LTJG Jerald Lee Pinneker was killed in action on 20 March 1966. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.
Distinguished Flying Cross
From Hall of Valor:
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Jerald Lee Pinneker (NSN: 0-669422), United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight during a strike mission against a major Viet Cong stronghold in South Vietnam on 20 March 1966. In the presence of intense enemy ground fire, and fully aware of the personal danger involved, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Pinneker resolutely made two separate napalm attacks, scoring a direct hit on an enemy automatic weapons position with his final attack. In completing the mission, he sacrificed his life when his aircraft was hit by a concentration of enemy ground fire.
General Orders: All Hands (April 1967)
Action Date: March 20, 1966
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant Junior Grade
Mac Short Award
From USNA Class of 1963:
Jerry was awarded the Mac Short Award in Aviation at graduation from the Academy as the most promising future Naval aviator: "The name of the graduating midshipman who has displayed the most marked interest and practical aptitude for a career as a naval aviator will be inscribed annually upon a plaque presented by The Mac Short Memorial Foundation. In addition, such midshipman will be awarded a prize of a wrist watch, suitably engraved. The midshipman receiving this award must be physically qualified, temperamentally adapted, and must have submitted an official request for flight training with the intention of qualifying as a naval aviator."
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
