Honor Mission
Aubrey Pridgen, Retired
USA USN USAF – WWII
San Antonio, Texas – 09-20-19
San Antonio, Texas – 09-20-19
ABOUT THE MISSION:
The family of Lt. Col. Aubrey Pridgen, US Navy/Army/Air Force (Ret.), requests the presence and participation of the Patriot Guard Riders at the funeral service, LEO supported procession, and graveside rendering of military honors of their loved one. Lt. Col. Pridgen, age 94, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 27th, 2019. He entered the United States Navy in 1944 where he was assigned to the USS Battleship West Virginia. He was aboard for all WWII campaigns in the Pacific Theater after the West Virginia was rebuilt from the attack at Pearl Harbor. Campaigns included Leyte Gulf, Suriago Strait, Mindoro, Luzon, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Aubrey witnessed the raising of the “Stars & Stripes” on Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima and he was aboard for the signing of the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay on Sept 2, 1945. He was discharged from the Navy with a rank of Fire Controlman 2nd class on May 2, 1946. . In January 1957, he began a second military career which continued for twenty-five years. He commissioned in the Army Medical Service Corps with his first tour of duty at Ft Sam Houston, Texas and two years later was assigned duty with the 16th Field Hospital in Vitry Le Francois, France. When French President Charles de Gaulle requested US forces to leave France in May 1959, Aubrey then transferred from the Army to the Air Force and was assigned to USAF Hospital in Wiesbaden, Germany until 1963. Five tours later which included Chanute AFB, Illinois, US Naval Hospital, St. Albans, NY, the Pentagon, USAF Hospital Bitburg, Germany, and WHMC, Lackland AFB, Texas, he retired from the United States Air Force with a rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1982. He was awarded twelve decorations, citations and medals for his military service, including the Air Force Commendation Medal.
PRIMARY STAGING DETAILS: 09-20-19
Staging Time: 09:00 AM
Chapel Hill United Methodist Church
Ride Captain:
Jim “Red” Hefner
aaahefner@aol.com
Special Instructions:
Staging: 09:00 AM
Briefing: 09:15 AM
Service: 10:00 AM
KSU: 10:45 AM
Interment: 11:30 AM Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd, San Antonio, TX 78209.
Flags & Water:
Flags will be provided
If you have large bike flags, please bring them.
Water will be provided.
Flags will be provided
If you have large bike flags, please bring them.
Water will be provided.
Submitted By: Lisa Menard
Position: Texas Ride Captain
Position: Texas Ride Captain
Note: You do not have to own/ride a motorcycle or be a veteran to join, and membership is Free. The only requirement is RESPECT! To subscribe to receive mission notices, log into the National Site and click on the Members tab at the top. Select the Subscribe to PGR Missions option.