Arthur J. (Ret.) Kinzel
November 17, 1934 — June 11, 2014
Colonel (Ret.) Arthur J. Kinzel, 79, passed away, Thursday, June 11, 2014 at Columbus Hospice House.
Graveside Services will be held 1:30 PM Monday, June 16, 2014 at Ft. Benning Main Post Cemetery with Father Jacob Almeter officiating according to McMullen Funeral Home, 3874 Gentian Blvd. Columbus, GA 31907.
Colonel Kinzel was born in Wisconsin in November of 1934. He attended both the University of Wisconsin and Ripon College majoring in Education and Political Science. At college graduation he was designed a distinguished Military graduate and commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the Army through the ROTC program. Upon his graduation he entered the Army with his first duty station at Ft. Benning, GA. After completion of the Infantry and Airborne School at Benning, he was assigned the 2nd Airborne Group, 503rd Infantry as a weapons platoon leader at Fort Bragg, NC. Following North Carolina, Lt. Linzel's unit (2/503) was designated to move to the Pacific Island of Okinawa where it would be eventually designated the 173rd Airborne Brigade and the lead strike in the Pacific. While stationed at Okinawa, now Captain Kinzel, served as Assault Gun Platoon Leader, Company Commander, Battalion Exec. Officaer, and Brigade Staff Officer.
In 1964 Captain Kinzel was assigned his first tour of Vietnam as a MACV regimental Advisor with the 32nd Regimental of the 21st ARVN Division. Kinzel called the city of Cau Mau, Vietnam home for a year. Upon completing his first tour, Major Kinzel was again assingned to the Infantry School. In 1969 Major Kinzel again returned to Vietnam for his second combat tour with the 1st Air Calvary Division. During this tour he served as Division Staff Officer in G3 as Battalion Staff Officer and the S3 Operations Officer (1/8th Infantry) and Brigade Staff Officer (3rd Brigade).
He later returned to the States to attend the Army Command and General Staff College course at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas where he graduated with honors. Upon leaving Leavenworth, Major Kinzel was assigned to Middle Tennessee State University as a Professor of Military Science in the ROTC Dept. While at the Univeristy he earned a Masters in Political Science and Education and was promoted to Lt. Colonel.
In his next assignment, Lt. Colonel Kinzel was selected for a Battalion Command assignment and received orders to the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He was ultimately assigned as the Brigade Exec. Officer of the 3rd Brigade, then as Commander of the 1st Battalion, 501st Airborn Infantry.
Upon completion of his command, Kinzel wa assigned as a student to the Air War College in Montgomery, Alabama where he was promoted from below the zone (5%) to Full Colonel. After graduating from the Air War College, Colonel Kinzel was again assigned to Fort Benning as the Commander and President of the US Army Infantry Board, the test agency for all weapons and equipment. Colonel Kinzel retired from the Army ending his 28 year career. During his 28 years of service he received many awards and medals which include the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal, Legion of Merit and others. After retirement, he worked as a property manager with 18 years for CMH Trust.
Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Kathleen.
Survivors include his wife Audrey, partner and best friend of 55 plus years; son, Patrick; grandsons, Brandon and Sean.
The family is very grateful for the loving care provided by Columbus Hospice House and his personal care giver, Carol Moore.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions made be made in memory of a great man to Columbus Hospice House, 7020 Moon Road Columbus, GA 31909.
Graveside Services will be held 1:30 PM Monday, June 16, 2014 at Ft. Benning Main Post Cemetery with Father Jacob Almeter officiating according to McMullen Funeral Home, 3874 Gentian Blvd. Columbus, GA 31907.
Colonel Kinzel was born in Wisconsin in November of 1934. He attended both the University of Wisconsin and Ripon College majoring in Education and Political Science. At college graduation he was designed a distinguished Military graduate and commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the Army through the ROTC program. Upon his graduation he entered the Army with his first duty station at Ft. Benning, GA. After completion of the Infantry and Airborne School at Benning, he was assigned the 2nd Airborne Group, 503rd Infantry as a weapons platoon leader at Fort Bragg, NC. Following North Carolina, Lt. Linzel's unit (2/503) was designated to move to the Pacific Island of Okinawa where it would be eventually designated the 173rd Airborne Brigade and the lead strike in the Pacific. While stationed at Okinawa, now Captain Kinzel, served as Assault Gun Platoon Leader, Company Commander, Battalion Exec. Officaer, and Brigade Staff Officer.
In 1964 Captain Kinzel was assigned his first tour of Vietnam as a MACV regimental Advisor with the 32nd Regimental of the 21st ARVN Division. Kinzel called the city of Cau Mau, Vietnam home for a year. Upon completing his first tour, Major Kinzel was again assingned to the Infantry School. In 1969 Major Kinzel again returned to Vietnam for his second combat tour with the 1st Air Calvary Division. During this tour he served as Division Staff Officer in G3 as Battalion Staff Officer and the S3 Operations Officer (1/8th Infantry) and Brigade Staff Officer (3rd Brigade).
He later returned to the States to attend the Army Command and General Staff College course at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas where he graduated with honors. Upon leaving Leavenworth, Major Kinzel was assigned to Middle Tennessee State University as a Professor of Military Science in the ROTC Dept. While at the Univeristy he earned a Masters in Political Science and Education and was promoted to Lt. Colonel.
In his next assignment, Lt. Colonel Kinzel was selected for a Battalion Command assignment and received orders to the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He was ultimately assigned as the Brigade Exec. Officer of the 3rd Brigade, then as Commander of the 1st Battalion, 501st Airborn Infantry.
Upon completion of his command, Kinzel wa assigned as a student to the Air War College in Montgomery, Alabama where he was promoted from below the zone (5%) to Full Colonel. After graduating from the Air War College, Colonel Kinzel was again assigned to Fort Benning as the Commander and President of the US Army Infantry Board, the test agency for all weapons and equipment. Colonel Kinzel retired from the Army ending his 28 year career. During his 28 years of service he received many awards and medals which include the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal, Legion of Merit and others. After retirement, he worked as a property manager with 18 years for CMH Trust.
Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Kathleen.
Survivors include his wife Audrey, partner and best friend of 55 plus years; son, Patrick; grandsons, Brandon and Sean.
The family is very grateful for the loving care provided by Columbus Hospice House and his personal care giver, Carol Moore.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions made be made in memory of a great man to Columbus Hospice House, 7020 Moon Road Columbus, GA 31909.
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