Ralph J. Powell
August 9, 1930 — October 26, 2015
Colonel Ralph Jackson "Jack" Powell (U.S. Army, retired), died Monday morning, Oct. 26th at St. Francis Hospital in Columbus, GA. Jack was born and raised in the Oak Hill community of Morganton, NC by his father and mother, Lewis A. Powell and Lessie Whisnant Powell, now deceased. He is survived by his devoted wife of years, Julie McLain Powell; his two sons- Jerry T. Powell of Columbus, GA, and Ralph Jr. (deceased) of Morganton, NC; his granddaughter Ashley K. Powell and great granddaughter Ava Posey, both of Columbus, GA. He also had three brothers and five sisters, Albert B. Powell (deceased), Robert E. Powell (deceased), Charles E. Powell, Sarah Freeman (deceased), Ethel Mcgee (deceased), Mildred Powell, Nell Cuthbertson, and Ruby Carswell, all of Morganton, NC.; as well as many nephews, nieces, grand and great grand nephews and nieces. Jack was a role model- as a family man, professional soldier, pilot, university teacher, scout leader, arbitrator, mediator, author, lecturer, coach, and businessman, while serving his family, country, church, and community.
He entered the Army in 1947 as a teenager, served for over 32 years, held every rank from Private to Colonel, and commanded every sized unit from a ten man squad to a brigade of over 5000 men. He also served on the staff of the Army Chief of Staff in the Pentagon, U.S. Army Vietnam Staff, U.S. Army Alaska Staff, as well as staff positions at Division, Brigade, and Battalion level. He was a flight instructor and tactics instructor in both Armor and Aviation. Jack's duty assignments included Vietnam, Germany, Korea, Japan, Alaska, and many posts in the contiguous United States. He loved his work with Cavalry, Air Cavalry, and Aviation. He served in the 3rd, 6th, 11th, and 12th Cavalry Regiments and the 31st Infantry Regiment. Divisions he served in include the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Armored Divisions, the 1st Cavalry Division, and the 5th Mechanized Division.
He commanded the Army's first Divisional Air Cavalry Troop, and was the Operational Officer for the Army's first Airmobile Company to deploy to Vietnam. He served two additional tours of duty in Vietnam; with an Armor study group and the 11th Cavalry Regiment, where he wrote the manual for Air Cavalry Squadron Operations. Additionally, he was one of the few soldiers to have served in the occupation forces of Japan, Korea, and Germany after WWII. While serving in the Pentagon, Jack was the manager for the funding and selection process for all Army Officers' schooling, both military and civilian. He commanded all Army Aviation in Alaska, where they developed cold weather operations doctrine for Army helicopters and airplanes, by conducting tactical operations in -50 degrees below zero weather. His aviation soldiers and medical personnel developed mobile medical and dental kits, and transported them to isolated Eskimo villages via "crane" helicopters, where medical and dental professionals provided treatment to the villagers. His last assignment was Director of Training Development for the Aviation Center at Ft. Rucker, AL, where he was the Center Lead in the study to make Aviation a combat branch- along with Armor, Infantry, and Artillery. Additionally, his soldiers developed the Career Course for Aviation Officers as well.
During his many years of service, Jack received many awards; including the Purple Heart for wounds received during combat operations in Vietnam, two Legions of Merit, two Bronze Stars, two Meritorious Service medals, eleven Combat Air medals, the Army Commendation medal, Republic of Vietnam Medal of Honor, as well as many individual and unit citations. He was also inducted into The Infantry Officers Hall of Fame at Ft. Benning, GA.
He was a graduate of The Army War College, Command and General Staff College, and many other career Aviation and Armor courses. He held a Bachelor and Master of Science Degree, and attended the Xerox Management School. After his military career, he managed a family real estate business.
During and after his military career, Jack was engaged in numerous community activities. He served as a District Director for Boy Scouts of America, and managed a Scout camp. He also served as a member of the State of Alaska School Board for military post schools, and as a coach for boys baseball little league. Jack was also a certified Arbitrator and Mediator, conducting over 300 court-ordered mediations for Savannah, GA Courts, and many Arbitrations in Columbus, GA. He served a term on the Chatham County Tax Equalization Board, taught adult education in labor relations and labor law at Troy University, AL, and lectured at both public and private schools, and civic organizations. Additionally, after his Army career, Jack became a member of several military organizations; he served on the board of a local chapter of The Association of The U.S. Army (A.U.S.A.), the Military Officers Association of America (M.O.A.A.), and on the Savannah, GA chapter of The Secretary of Defense Council for Employer Support of the National Guard and Reserves, where he briefed Guard and Reserve soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Jack was also a faithful servant of the Catholic Church, where he served as President of a Catholic High School Board, a member of his local Parrish Council, a Lector, a Eucharistic Minister, and as a teen Catechism teacher.
Jack never truly retired; he faithfully and consistently spent his life serving his family, friends, community, and church, as well as his beloved Army- where he epitomized the words duty, honor, and country. He is greatly missed by all who knew him. In his own words, "My wife, Julie, is the most loving, faithful, and care-giving person I know, and is the best thing that ever happened to me".
A memorial service will be held at St. Anne Catholic Church on Tuesday, Nov. 3rd at 11:00am. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations can instead be made to the Humane Society of Savannah GA.
2000 Kay Circle
Columbus, GA, 31901
2000 Kay Circle
Columbus, GA, 31901
He entered the Army in 1947 as a teenager, served for over 32 years, held every rank from Private to Colonel, and commanded every sized unit from a ten man squad to a brigade of over 5000 men. He also served on the staff of the Army Chief of Staff in the Pentagon, U.S. Army Vietnam Staff, U.S. Army Alaska Staff, as well as staff positions at Division, Brigade, and Battalion level. He was a flight instructor and tactics instructor in both Armor and Aviation. Jack's duty assignments included Vietnam, Germany, Korea, Japan, Alaska, and many posts in the contiguous United States. He loved his work with Cavalry, Air Cavalry, and Aviation. He served in the 3rd, 6th, 11th, and 12th Cavalry Regiments and the 31st Infantry Regiment. Divisions he served in include the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Armored Divisions, the 1st Cavalry Division, and the 5th Mechanized Division.
He commanded the Army's first Divisional Air Cavalry Troop, and was the Operational Officer for the Army's first Airmobile Company to deploy to Vietnam. He served two additional tours of duty in Vietnam; with an Armor study group and the 11th Cavalry Regiment, where he wrote the manual for Air Cavalry Squadron Operations. Additionally, he was one of the few soldiers to have served in the occupation forces of Japan, Korea, and Germany after WWII. While serving in the Pentagon, Jack was the manager for the funding and selection process for all Army Officers' schooling, both military and civilian. He commanded all Army Aviation in Alaska, where they developed cold weather operations doctrine for Army helicopters and airplanes, by conducting tactical operations in -50 degrees below zero weather. His aviation soldiers and medical personnel developed mobile medical and dental kits, and transported them to isolated Eskimo villages via "crane" helicopters, where medical and dental professionals provided treatment to the villagers. His last assignment was Director of Training Development for the Aviation Center at Ft. Rucker, AL, where he was the Center Lead in the study to make Aviation a combat branch- along with Armor, Infantry, and Artillery. Additionally, his soldiers developed the Career Course for Aviation Officers as well.
During his many years of service, Jack received many awards; including the Purple Heart for wounds received during combat operations in Vietnam, two Legions of Merit, two Bronze Stars, two Meritorious Service medals, eleven Combat Air medals, the Army Commendation medal, Republic of Vietnam Medal of Honor, as well as many individual and unit citations. He was also inducted into The Infantry Officers Hall of Fame at Ft. Benning, GA.
He was a graduate of The Army War College, Command and General Staff College, and many other career Aviation and Armor courses. He held a Bachelor and Master of Science Degree, and attended the Xerox Management School. After his military career, he managed a family real estate business.
During and after his military career, Jack was engaged in numerous community activities. He served as a District Director for Boy Scouts of America, and managed a Scout camp. He also served as a member of the State of Alaska School Board for military post schools, and as a coach for boys baseball little league. Jack was also a certified Arbitrator and Mediator, conducting over 300 court-ordered mediations for Savannah, GA Courts, and many Arbitrations in Columbus, GA. He served a term on the Chatham County Tax Equalization Board, taught adult education in labor relations and labor law at Troy University, AL, and lectured at both public and private schools, and civic organizations. Additionally, after his Army career, Jack became a member of several military organizations; he served on the board of a local chapter of The Association of The U.S. Army (A.U.S.A.), the Military Officers Association of America (M.O.A.A.), and on the Savannah, GA chapter of The Secretary of Defense Council for Employer Support of the National Guard and Reserves, where he briefed Guard and Reserve soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Jack was also a faithful servant of the Catholic Church, where he served as President of a Catholic High School Board, a member of his local Parrish Council, a Lector, a Eucharistic Minister, and as a teen Catechism teacher.
Jack never truly retired; he faithfully and consistently spent his life serving his family, friends, community, and church, as well as his beloved Army- where he epitomized the words duty, honor, and country. He is greatly missed by all who knew him. In his own words, "My wife, Julie, is the most loving, faithful, and care-giving person I know, and is the best thing that ever happened to me".
A memorial service will be held at St. Anne Catholic Church on Tuesday, Nov. 3rd at 11:00am. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations can instead be made to the Humane Society of Savannah GA.
Funeral Service
NOV 3. 11:00 AM (EST)
St. Anne Catholic Church2000 Kay Circle
Columbus, GA, 31901
Visitation
NOV 3 (EST)
St. Anne Catholic Church2000 Kay Circle
Columbus, GA, 31901
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ralph J. Powell, please visit our flower store.