2sr2worry
Naval Aviation=world's greatest team sport
Decoy Marksbury was a light attack legend and a pilot who reveled in the fact that he never had a "non-flying" job. Only jumped out once...of an A-4 with a stud when flying out over the Gulf of Mexico.
Hearing "The 'Decoy' is airborne" while sitting in the tower was always a treat.
If you want to honor and hear more about a guy who lived large (a denizen of WestPac Light Attack) and who loved naval aviation, then stop by the service this afternoon.
First Christian Church, 3401 Santa Fe, Corpus Christi, on Friday, February 15, 2008 at 3:30 p.m.
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http://obits.caller.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewobit&ID=60465
Johnsten Lee (Decoy) Marksbury
Johnsten Lee (Decoy) Marksbury, (CDR, USN, Retired) of Corpus Christi, answered his final ready alert on Saturday, February 9, 2008 in Reno, Nevada after suffering a heart attack while returning from a family vacation. He was 63 years old.
John was born February 8, 1945 in Hannibal, Missouri and grew up in Centralia, Missouri. He was a high school basketball player, and one of his most treasured accomplishments were attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. John was a red, white and blue patriot who entered the Navy in 1968 after graduating from Parsons College in Iowa with a degree in Business Administration. In the course of his Navy career he obtained his Masters Degree from Webster College. He received his coveted Navy Wings of Gold while stationed with VT-23 at Kingsville, Texas on April 1, 1970. As a light attack carrier pilot, he spent 26 years on active duty, including two tours aboard the USS John F. Kennedy as a member of the elite VA-72 Bluehawk squadron flying the A-7 Corsair. After returning to shore duty in 1976, he served two tours as an instructor pilot in the Advanced Training Command with VT-24 in Beeville, Texas, flying the A-4 Skyhawk. He then served for five years and two tours aboard the Midway, he served as Strike Operations Officer for the ship and flew the A-7 Corsair with both VA-56 and VA-93. Upon returning to the United States, John was selected to the distinguished position of being responsible for the development, testing and implementation of the Navy’s newest jet trainer, the T45A Goshawk. During the final five years of his active duty Navy career, he served as Chief of Staff of Training Air Wing 2, NAS Kingsville, Texas, where he had been promoted from Deputy Wing Commander. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal. In his Navy career, John accumulated over 8,500 hours of jet time in multiple tactical aircraft, and made 852 carrier landings.
Retirement for John was just another chapter in the life of a dedicated Navy pilot and instructor. He went on to become part of a civilian aviation squadron where he was chosen in 2000 as one of the initial cadre A-4 instructor pilots for Advanced Training Systems International at Williams Air Force Base, AZ. He was instrumental in developing the entire training programs for the company and was employed there for three years.
After leaving ATSI, John retired to the golf course at home in Corpus Christi.
John was preceded in death by his father Lee Marksbury, his mother Alma Marksbury, and a brother Jay Marksbury. He leaves his beloved wife and best friend of 38 years, Lora; his daughter Julie Lee Cazalas (Matt) of Corpus Christi, Texas; his son Capt. John Marksbury, USMC based in Washington, D.C.; and his best buddy granddaughter Kacie Lee Cazalas. His aunt Clara Hudson of Missouri and nephew Eric Marksbury, also survive. He also leaves a host of friends from his years in the Naval community and from his many interests in golf and sports, and his friends and neighbors from the community.
A farewell service in John’s memory will be held at First Christian Church, 3401 Santa Fe, Corpus Christi, on Friday, February 15, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. John’s ashes will be dispersed at sea by his family. The family requests donations in John’s name to the American Heart Association, or to the VA-72 Bluehawk Memorial Fund to be established at the Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola, FL.
Hearing "The 'Decoy' is airborne" while sitting in the tower was always a treat.
If you want to honor and hear more about a guy who lived large (a denizen of WestPac Light Attack) and who loved naval aviation, then stop by the service this afternoon.
First Christian Church, 3401 Santa Fe, Corpus Christi, on Friday, February 15, 2008 at 3:30 p.m.
###############################
http://obits.caller.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewobit&ID=60465
Johnsten Lee (Decoy) Marksbury
Johnsten Lee (Decoy) Marksbury, (CDR, USN, Retired) of Corpus Christi, answered his final ready alert on Saturday, February 9, 2008 in Reno, Nevada after suffering a heart attack while returning from a family vacation. He was 63 years old.
John was born February 8, 1945 in Hannibal, Missouri and grew up in Centralia, Missouri. He was a high school basketball player, and one of his most treasured accomplishments were attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. John was a red, white and blue patriot who entered the Navy in 1968 after graduating from Parsons College in Iowa with a degree in Business Administration. In the course of his Navy career he obtained his Masters Degree from Webster College. He received his coveted Navy Wings of Gold while stationed with VT-23 at Kingsville, Texas on April 1, 1970. As a light attack carrier pilot, he spent 26 years on active duty, including two tours aboard the USS John F. Kennedy as a member of the elite VA-72 Bluehawk squadron flying the A-7 Corsair. After returning to shore duty in 1976, he served two tours as an instructor pilot in the Advanced Training Command with VT-24 in Beeville, Texas, flying the A-4 Skyhawk. He then served for five years and two tours aboard the Midway, he served as Strike Operations Officer for the ship and flew the A-7 Corsair with both VA-56 and VA-93. Upon returning to the United States, John was selected to the distinguished position of being responsible for the development, testing and implementation of the Navy’s newest jet trainer, the T45A Goshawk. During the final five years of his active duty Navy career, he served as Chief of Staff of Training Air Wing 2, NAS Kingsville, Texas, where he had been promoted from Deputy Wing Commander. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal. In his Navy career, John accumulated over 8,500 hours of jet time in multiple tactical aircraft, and made 852 carrier landings.
Retirement for John was just another chapter in the life of a dedicated Navy pilot and instructor. He went on to become part of a civilian aviation squadron where he was chosen in 2000 as one of the initial cadre A-4 instructor pilots for Advanced Training Systems International at Williams Air Force Base, AZ. He was instrumental in developing the entire training programs for the company and was employed there for three years.
After leaving ATSI, John retired to the golf course at home in Corpus Christi.
John was preceded in death by his father Lee Marksbury, his mother Alma Marksbury, and a brother Jay Marksbury. He leaves his beloved wife and best friend of 38 years, Lora; his daughter Julie Lee Cazalas (Matt) of Corpus Christi, Texas; his son Capt. John Marksbury, USMC based in Washington, D.C.; and his best buddy granddaughter Kacie Lee Cazalas. His aunt Clara Hudson of Missouri and nephew Eric Marksbury, also survive. He also leaves a host of friends from his years in the Naval community and from his many interests in golf and sports, and his friends and neighbors from the community.
A farewell service in John’s memory will be held at First Christian Church, 3401 Santa Fe, Corpus Christi, on Friday, February 15, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. John’s ashes will be dispersed at sea by his family. The family requests donations in John’s name to the American Heart Association, or to the VA-72 Bluehawk Memorial Fund to be established at the Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola, FL.
