TACKAS
 
QUINLAN   RATLIFF   REEDER   REYES   RICHARDS   RIECKE   RILEY   RINEY   RIOPEL   ROBINSON   ROCKEL   RODRIGUEZ   ROOT   ROSTEN   ROUSSEAU   ROY   RUANE   RUNNINGER   RUNYON   RUSSELL   SAGOR   SAIKKONEN   SALEM   SANDUSKY   SANTOS   SAUNDERS   SCARFF   SCHAETZLE   SCHATTE   SCHOECK   SCHUMACHER   SCHUMAN   SCOTT   SEALY   SEAMAN   SEVERNS   SHACKLEFORD   SHARPE   SHEA   SHER0W   SHOBERT   SHUMOSKY   SILVA   SLATTERY   SMALLWOOD   SMITH, KENDALL   SMITH, MARK   SMITH, SAMUEL   SMITH, WINIFRED   SMITHAM   SNIDER   SOLARI   SORRENTINO   SOUTHWORTH   SPARKS   STEIN   STEPHENS   STEPHENSON   STEVENS   STOVER   STRINGER   STURGES   SUMMERHILL   SWINDELLS   SWORD   TACKAS   TASSIE   TATSCH   TAUZIN   TAYLOR   THOMAS, DAVID   THOMAS, WILLIAM   THOMPSON   THORBURN   THORSON   TORRES   TOUCHETTE   TOVAR   TRAVIS   TREAGER   TRUITT   VALLIMONT   VARGAS   VAUGHN   VIGARE   VOAS   VON PHUL   WALDECK   WALLS   WALT   WARREN   WASHINGTON   WATERS   WEBB   WEILAND   WEIMER   WELK   WERBER   WEST   WHITE, EUGENE   WHITE, SAWYER   WHITNEY   WILLIAMS   WILSON, HERNAND   BLANK   WINSLOW   WITHINGTON   WOMACK   WOOD, CARL   WOOD, WENDELL   WOODSON   WOODWARD   WOOLVERTON   WOTEN   WURZBURG   YEAST   YESTNESS   YONTECK   YORK   YOUNG, KELLY   ZDENEK   ZEHNDER   ZERBE  


William Tackas

Final Flight on October 16, 2007



William Tackas, Coloner, USAF (Retired)

~September 13, 1936 - October 16, 2007




20th SOS mourns loss of past commander


by Senior Airman Ali Flisek

1st SOW Public Affairs

 

11/2/2007 - HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- Family, friends and members of the 20th Special Operations Squadron gathered at Beal Memorial Cemetery in Fort Walton Beach, October 22, 2007 for the burial of former 20th SOS Commander, retired Col. William Tackas.

 

The weather seemed appropriate for the occasion as many gathered under umbrellas to watch the Hurlburt Field Honor Guard fold the American flag over the casket. The flag was then given to Col. Brad Webb, 1st Special Operations Wing commander, who then with



Members of the Hurlburt Field Honor Guard carry retired

Col. William Tackas' casket to the graveside ceremony at

Beal Memorial Cemetary in Fort Walton Beach Oct. 22.

Colonel Tackas was the first commander of the 20th

Special Operations Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by

Senior Airman Ali Flisek)


words of comfort handed the flag to Colonel Tackas' son.


Members of the 20th SOS stood in formation during the ceremony to honor their squadron's first commander. The honor guard performed the 21-gun salute. "Colonel "T" was a larger-than-life personality that influenced every PAVE LOW warrior from 1980 to the present," Colonel Webb said, "While he will be sorely missed by all Air Commandos, his legacy will be pervasive far into the future and throughout Air Force Special Operations Command."

 

Colonel Tackas held command of the 20th SOS from 1980 - 1982. He was an expert in helicopter requirements and special operations aircraft. He had a total of 7,780 flying hours, 6,180 of which was in a helicopter. Colonel Tackas traveled extensively throughout Europe and the pacific at bases worldwide. He completed 30 years of service in the Air Force, and retired, July 1, 1988.

 

"He sparked what we're able to do now; be the best elite helicopter squadron in the Air Force," said Capt. Keith Snook, a pilot with the 20th SOS. "He will always be remembered as the beginning."

 

Colonel Tackas was born on September 13, 1936. He passed away October 16, 2007. He is survived by his five children; William Jr., Sally Jo, Craig, Douglas and Karen. He was buried in his flight suit and the famous red scarf worn only by members of the PAVE LOW community.

 


       



"FREEDOM ISN'T FREE"

~SOMEONE PAYS FOR YOU AND ME~


"HELICOPTERS" - THE ONLY WAY TO FLY


~NEVER FORGOTTEN~