Louis Freeman Whelan

Louis ""Lou"" Whelan, SFC, US Army (Ret), 77, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on December 26, 2007, after a valiant battle with lung cancer. He was born January 8, 1930 in Laurel, Iowa. He enlisted in the Army in 1947 and earned his paratrooper wings as part of the Glider Infantry and served with the 11th Airborne Division in Japan from 1947-1949. He served with the Iowa National Guard 1063rd Aviation Battalion, 34th Infantry Division from 1953-1962 as an aircraft mechanic. Louis re-enlisted in the regular Army in 1962. He was an infantryman, paratrooper, aircraft mechanic, UH-1 helicopter mechanic, small arms repairman, and aircraft armament mechanic. He survived 2 glider crashes in Japan and 2 helicopter crashes in Vietnam. He was a member of the Ft. Carson IG Team as an arms room inspector at the time of his retirement from the Army in 1978 after 27 years service. Louis was stationed at Ft. Riley, KS, Germany, Korea, Ft. Polk, LA, Vietnam (3 tours), Ft. Ord, CA, Ft. Hood, TX and Ft. Carson, CO. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal w/2 Oak Leaf Clusters (1970 336th Aviation Company Assault Helicopter; 1972 57th Assault Helicopter Company 1st Aviation Brigade), Air Medal w/V Device-2nd Award (1970 336th Aviation Company Assault Helicopter; 1972 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion 1st Cav), Air Medal 7th thru 9th Awards (1972 57th Assault Helicopter Company 1st Aviation Brigade), Army Commendation Medal (1972 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion 1st Cav), Vietnam Cross of Gallantry w/Palm, Vietnam Service Medal w/8 Bronze Service Stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal w/60 Device, Army Occupation Medal (Japan), Army Occupation Medal (Germany), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Berlin), National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal 1st thru 3rd Awards, 6 Overseas Bars, Meritorious Unit Citation, Valorous Unit Award, Presidential Unit Citation, Senior Aircraft Crewman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, and Parachutist Badge. His last duty assignment was with D Trp 1/10 Cav HQ FORSCOM, Ft. Carson, CO. Louis then worked as a diesel and auto mechanic in Colorado Springs till he retired in 2000. He is survived by his wife, Joyce, of 55 years, 11 children Jacalyn, Jan (Blinn), Thomas, Jean (Shurtz), John, James, Laurie (Herbst), Randall, Daniel, Mark, Michael, 37 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and 4 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Harold Whelan and Helen Scott West, his sister Patricia Bulmer and 2 grandchildren. Visitation will be from 10-11 am Tuesday, January 8, 2008, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 740 Hudson St., Denver, with the funeral service to follow at 11 am with internment at Ft. Logan National Cemetery at 1:30 pm.