| March 7, 2006 | |
| I met Big John at my first Air Force reunion in San Antonio, Texas in 2003. I last saw him in Bellevue, Nebraska in 2005. It was obvious that he was an honored, respected, and loved member of the wonderful band of brothers called the "Prop Wash Gang." After having talked to Big John for only a few minutes I knew that he was the kind of man whom I would want to be friends with for the rest of my life. I am honored to have had the opportunity to meet Big John and to talk to him. Rest in Peace, my brother. I will be looking forward to seeing you with the biggest band of brothers ever. |
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Airlee Owens (Bandon, OR )
airlee@verizon.net |
| March 7, 2006 | |
| I worked for Big John in Athens years ago, his honesty and clear spoken leadership have guided me through the rest of my life. He will be sorely missed, but never forgotten. Rest well big guy, you've earned it. | |
| Bob Donan (St Joseph, MO ) |
| March 7, 2006 | |
| Until we meet again, Big John. | |
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Seguin (Skip) DeRousse (Bastrop, TX )
kg5pa@austin.rr.com |
| March 7, 2006 | |
| Rest easy my big brother, you have earned it. I thank The Lord that I had the honor of knowing you as a friend and PWG'er. | |
| Ernie (Augusta, GA ) |
| March 7, 2006 | |
| Met Big John on the PWG forum, came to love his wit, humor, and gruff gentleness. Until the Resurrection when we meet again, rest, Brother BJ. WTL |
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Lawrence Rayburn (Balmorhea, TX )
RayburnLawrence@bfusa.com |
| March 7, 2006 | |
| John, it's been an honor to fly with and to know you. We'll meet again. I love you, fella. | |
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Jon (Mike) Doty (Lakeland, FL )
jdoty2@tampabay.rr.com |
| March 7, 2006 | |
| I SAW AN EAGLE FLY I saw an eagle fly... ...lookin' east toward the Great Smoky Mountains 'bout six in the evening Early March day Clear No clouds I saw an eagle fly... ...effortlessly riding the currents Soaring above all Majestic Supreme I saw an eagle fly... ...and that eagle looked a lot like BIG JOHN DEAVER In Remembrance Lonnie Henderson and The Prop Wash Gang March 5, 2006 |
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Lonnie Henderson (Anadarko, OK )
chief@netride.net |
| March 7, 2006 | |
| Big John, my friend of 38 years, I can not be there to see you off on your last Air Force mission due to personal health, but you and your family are in our prayers. And Diane and I will be there in spirit. Saying goodbye is never easy; let's just say, "We'll see you on the other side." Your Prop Wash Gang brother and friend. Larry Tart |
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Larry Tart (State College, PA )
larrytart@aol.com |
| March 7, 2006 | |
| First met John Deaver at Rhein Main in 1971. Seeing him standing belt buckle to shouder with the Little Brown Midget was quite a sight as they presided over the monthly '16th beer calls. Those beer calls were legend! Members of other units assigned to Rhein Mine tried whatever they could to finagle an invitation to our beer calls - some were successful, most were not. After all, we had our standards. Anticipation would grow, reaching a fevered although somewhat inebriated pitch as we awaited the recognition we all knew was coming - the awarding of the hightly coveted Turdus Ignoramous Award. With the solemnity and dignity required of such an event, Big John would first call the names of those deemed worth of honorable mention, those whose actions during the previous month were noteworthy, but not quite up to the level required for the ultimate prize. Names and documented evidence had been presented to Big John and his selection committee of one, and we waited with bated breath as the suspense grew. Finally, as a hush fell over the assembled brethren, Big John would call out the name of that esteemed soul who had garnered the award for that month. It might be Horace F. Bissett (third OLC) Nate Britt Harry Coogle Animal Ashton Hank Hankerson Col. (soon to be BGen) Sadler Bob Cope Skip DeRousse Ron Buteau] and others I will not recount here the deeds perpetrated by these individuals that earned them this singularly distinctive award. Maybe at the next reunion... I PCSed to the Det in Athens in 1972, and Big John followed along shortly thereafter. It was impossible to miss Big John in any group. At 6' 8", he stood out, literally and figuratively, in any crowd. If the squadron had any type of activity going, Big John was always there, right in the middle of it. Big John PCSed on to Offutt, and by the time I got there in 1976, he had already retired. I saw him from time to time after my own retirement, at FVTA reunions, SOB meetings, PWG reunions - John loved those meetings and we loved having him there. John Deaver was proud of many things. Foremost among those was his family - he often bragged about them, and rightfully so. He and his wife, Mary, had taken on a daunting task most would have avoided at all costs. John was also proud of his country and "his" Air Force. Always a people person, if he had a troop in trouble, Big John was there to fight the battle. He loved Security Service and the people in it. Were it not for silly military regulations, Big John would have served until March 5, 2006, the day he PCSed to his final station. So Big John Deaver joins that ever-growing list of Silent Warriors, flying higher and higher, Eagles all. Think I'll go down back by the river, all by myself, wander through the trees, imagine the sound of one more Herky bird, render a salute to the sky and shed a tear for Big John. Rest in peace, brother. Lonnie |
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Lonnie Henderson (Anadarko, OK )
chief@netride.net |
| March 7, 2006 | |
| "Big John" leaves behind a legacy of patriotism and love of his fellow flyers. He was known by many and admired by all; truly, he was a "man among men" who shall remain alive and well in the hearts and souls of those with whom he served. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loving family for their great loss ... bless you all. | |
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Larry Lane (Albuquerque, NM )
RB50BAT2@aol.com |
| March 7, 2006 | |
| Rest in Peace, Big John, I'm looking forward to the Maintenance Beer Call when I get there | |
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Tom Stoecker (Carlinville, IL )
stang1952@yahoo.com |
| March 7, 2006 | |
| Requiescat in Pace. My condolences are with both friends and family. Shannon Duncan, great-nephew of Big John Deaver through his sister, Jessie Lee Deaver Duncan 1909-1995. |
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Shannon Duncan (Cookeville, TN )
law01mac02@yahoo.com |
| March 7, 2006 | |
| Big John, We loved you dearly and will miss you greatly. |
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| Jon Gwinn (Laurel, MD ) |
| March 7, 2006 | |
| Safe landings, old friend | |
| Ron Chapelle (Albuquerque, NM) |
| March 7, 2006 | |
| A Titan - Rest Easy John | |
| George Honsakr (Castle Rock, CO ) |
| March 7, 2006 | |
| I didn't know Big John well but flew with him a few times. I never met a person that had anything to say about him that wasn't positive. May he rest in peace now that he has made his last PCS. | |
| Chuck Tache (Tipp City, OH ) |
| March 7, 2006 | |
| Big John, Glad to have known and flown with you. Be sure you great people up there save all these great people down here a spot. RIP old friend. Jimmy and Molly Mayer |
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| Jimmy Mayer (Lacey, WA ) |
| March 7, 2006 | |
| I met Big John for the first time at the Reunion in Destin, Florida where he regaled us with war stories and tales of his ride down to the reunion with Matt. Since that first meeting I've learned what a great man he was. I'd heard all about his exploits in the Air Force but when I heard about how he had adopted so many children I was really impressed. A true measure of a man is his love for others. In that respect Big John earned his moniker. | |
| John "Bubba" Armintrout (Leonard, TX ) |
| March 7, 2006 | |
| RIP, Big John. You were an inspiration to so many. |
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| James Perleth (Columbia, SC ) |
| March 7, 2006 | |
| Big John, May clear skies and soft tailwinds favor your flight to the big airport in the sky. It was an honor to meet you at the Omaha reunion. Rest in peace, big guy. We will join you at the stag bar in the future. Pavel | |
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Pavel Finnegan (Greenville, TX )
tonopaul17@comcast.net |
| March 7, 2006 | |
| My deepest condolences at the loss of Big John. May his soul and the souls of all the faithfully departed rest in peace. He will be remembered in my prayers. | |
| Bill White (Omaha, NE ) |
| March 7, 2006 | |
| Keep ‘em flying until we get there and can enjoy the flight with you, Big John. It was a pleasure here, too. |
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| Ron Hentz (Neenah, WI ) |
| March 7, 2006 | |
| Big John, you are the best of the best. It has been my distinct privilege to serve with you and to call you my friend. Get 'em organized up there big fella! The rest of us will be along in time. Til we meet again, RIP my brother. Rosie (Walter C.) Rosenstrom |
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"Rosie" Rosenstrom (Merced, CA )
budrosenstrom@yahoo.com |
| March 7, 2006 | |
| Rest in Peace Big John. You are already missed. WAM | |
| William miner (Severna Park, MD ) |
| March 8, 2006 | |
| Thank You BJ for the outstanding contributions you gave to all of us. May you Rest In Peace. | |
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Carl Antonik (State College, PA )
cmantonik@verizon.net |
| March 8, 2006 | |
| If a man's wealth is truly measured in the love of friends and family, I hope to one day be as rich a man as Big John Deaver. Rest well father, brother, friend. | |
| Dick Hahn (Fairfax, VA ) |
| March 8, 2006 | |
| Big John and I met face-to-face for the first time in September 2005 in Omaha but it was if I had know him all my life. He was a very special person and will be sorely missed. RIP Brother until we meet again. | |
| Larry Williams (Siloam, NC ) |
| March 8, 2006 | |
| As Chief and the others have so well noted, it was a privilege to have known Big John professionally, and to also see him in rare form at Rhein-Main beer calls and at various reunions, especially at the dedication of 60528 at Fort Meade! Our collective sympathies go to his family. Godspeed, Big John! | |
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Mike Collins (Kingsport, TN )
VolMike@yahoo.com |
| March 8, 2006 | |
| Rest in Peace Big John. I hope there are a lot of snap-caps waiting for you. | |
| Luke Laurrell (Roedermark-Urberach) |
| March 8, 2006 | |
| John, I think Matt summed it up very well: like him, I am a better person for having met you. | |
| Soppy Cresap (Chatsworth, GA ) |
| March 8, 2006 | |
| My condolences to the Family. Although I never had the pleasure of meeting Big John personally, I felt like I knew him through his posts and stories of others. Rest in Peace. | |
| Ray B. Ivey |
| March 8, 2006 | |
| I was on my first airborne assignment at Rhein Main AB, Germany when Big John arrived in 1969. He was already a legend in airborne circles and was just bigger than life! And Big didn't just apply to his stature, but his deeds, attitude, and friendship. I'm a better man for having known him. RIP Big John. | |
| Dan Hagy (San Antonio, TX ) |
| March 8, 2006 | |
| See you at the BIG Beer Call in the sky brother BJ. RIP | |
| Dave Bristol (Leesburg, FL ) |
| March 8, 2006 | |
| Farewell BJ, my Brother. You will be sorely missed here on earth ... but we know that you will forever soar higher than the Eagles ... and when you reach out your hand, you will surely touch the face of God. | |
| Ron & Twylla Kriegel (Petersburg, IL ) |
| March 10, 2006 | |
| "The eagle flies with the dove." Godspeed a true "Silent Warrior." | |
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John Kiss (San Diego, CA )
jkiss1@san.rr.com |
| March 9, 2006 | |
| "Big John" earned his name obviously for his size, but those of us who came to know him like to believe it was the for the size of the man's heart. God speed, brother. |
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| Rick Francona (Port Orford, OR ) |
| March 9, 2006 | |
| The world is a lesser place without Big John. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time | |
| Joan and Jack Harden (Bellevue, WA ) |
| March 9, 2006 | |
| Rest in peace Big John. Know that, in this world, you mattered! | |
| Roger Smith (Las Vegas, NV ) |
| March 9, 2006 | |
| John Samuel Deaver was indeed a big, big man. We all were fortunate to have known and served with him. May Christ and His Saints stand between you and harm. Mary and her Son. Patrick with his staff. Martin with his mantle. Brigid with her veil. Michael with his shield. And God over all with His strong right hand. Fair winds and following seas on your heavenly journey. |
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| Pete Siegel (San Antonio, TX ) |
| March 9, 2006 | |
| BJ, It was a privilage to work with you at Yokota and and honor to know you. Rest In Peace, Brother. See you in the great beyond. Dar |
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| Darwin Bruce (Pickerington, OH ) |
| March 9, 2006 | |
| Rest easy, BJ. You were a LEADER. | |
| Dale Hill (Owosso, MI ) |
| March 9, 2006 | |
| Had the privilege of flying with Big John at Yokota...mid 60's. The 88th was my first flying assignment. The first time I set foot on Strawbridge, 91-537, Big John and Jake Hargrove were in the maintenance compartment. I was in my first enlistment and not sure of the flying duty for which I had volunteered. Big John was one of several outstanding NCOs who recognized that "masked fear" most of us jeeps tried miserably to hide. Thank goodness NCOs like Big John were everywhere in Security Service's airborne program. Serving with the likes of Big John was an HONOR. Thanks BJ, for your leadership, guidance, and most of all your friendship. You are sorely missed. Rest in peace, sir! | |
| Darr King (San Antonio, TX ) |
| March 9, 2006 | |
| I only had the opportunity to meet you once at Yokota. It proved to be a changing day in my life. Thank you friend. | |
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Barry McBride (Norton, OH )
mcbridebarry@msn.com |
| March 8, 2006 | |
| Thank you, Big John, for your distinguished service to our country. For your love of children and all you did to give love and direction, And thank you for sharing your faith in our Lord, Jesus Christ thereby giving hope to others. May you rest in peace away from pain of this world. My deepest sympathy to all of those whose lives touched yours. Love and prayers, Ernie's Mom | |
| Betty Paschall (Inverness, FL ) |