JAMES ROBERT HENDRICKS was born in Cokato, Minnesota, in August 1923, to COL Lambert M. and Mabel C. Hendricks. He passed away from Parkinson's disease in 1999 and is survived by his wife Dorothy; his children Sharon Larsen and Michael Hendricks; his five grandchildren: Michael Denton, Holly Hendricks, Cory Larsen, and Mac and Rob Hendricks; and great-granddaughter Savannah Murray. His sisters, Virginia Louise Wyckoff and Barbara Jean Hollinger, also survived him. Barbara, however, lost a courageous battle with cancer just a few weeks after Jim's death.

Jim grew up in the farming community of Cokato, MN, and lived there until he was 18. Active in Boy Scouts, he attained the rank of Eagle Scout. His senior year in high school, he was the captain and quarterback of his football team as well as class president. He also enjoyed singing and was active in the Glee Club, choir, operettas and such.

Following high school graduation in 1941, Jim pursued a pre-med degree at the University of Minnesota before transferring to Loyola University after one year. He then entered the Air Cadet Program in 1942 and in 1944, graduated navigator, second lieutenant.

Jim flew 25 missions in B-24s in Italy during WWII and was promoted to first lieutenant. In 1945, he entered West Point.

Coming into West Point a first lieutenant and having combat flight experience in southern Europe soon earned Jim the nickname "Big Daddy." After Jim's passing, his Plebe-year roommate wrote to Dorothy and told her that he never would have gotten through his Plebe year if it wasn't for Jim. Jim taught him the "dos and don'ts," and made him study when he wanted to play. Jim joined the Glee Club at West Point, but his roommate thought it might have been just to get out on the weekends.

Jim was always very proud of attending West Point. Upon graduation in 1949, he was once again a second lieutenant. Jim earned his pilot wings in 1951, flew for eight years on Strategic Air Command crews and logged over 2,000 hours in multi-engine jet bombers. While performing so diligently, Jim received his masters of electrical engineering at the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright Patterson AFB in Ohio. Jim served on the SAGE project during 1960-64, and received his first Commendation Medal. Following that, he served in the Ballistic Systems Division until 1967, where he received his second Commendation Medal.

At that time, Jim was sent to Viet Nam. It was a tough time, since Jim had to leave the raising of his two teenagers in the hands of his wife Dorothy. But like Jim, Dorothy performed admirably. In Viet Nam, Jim flew STOL aircraft to re-supply Green Beret Camps. Jim received the Distinguished Flying Cross, one of his eight Air Medals, and a third Commendation Medal in Viet Nam.

Following Viet Nam, Jim spent the remainder of his military career at the Pentagon before retiring in 1969 as a lieutenant colonel after 27 years of total service. Upon retirement, Jim returned with his family to Minnesota and was employed by Sperry Univac as Configuration Manager and Senior Systems Design Engineer during 1969-83.

From New Braunfels, TX; to Enid, OK; to Houston. TX; to Columbus, OH; to Dayton, OH; to Bedford. MA; to Grand Terrace, CA; to Alexandria, VA; to Edina, MN; Jim and Dorothy decided on their final move, to La Costa, CA.

His family, and those who knew and loved him dearly.

Personal Eulogy