"D" flight in 1953.
1st lt. John Myrick Jr., 1st.lt. John McKee Flt Comdr, 1st lt, Alton
Thogersen, and 2nd lt. Marlin Templeton.
Picture Source: John McKee
Jr.
1st lt John McKee, 2nd lt.
Paul Pluginsky, 1st lt John Myrick, and 2nd lt Marlin Templeton.
(4th Fighter Interceptor Wing yearbook - 1953)
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Marlin Eugene Templeton
ol. Marlin
Eugene "Gene" Templeton, USAF Ret.
1928 ~ 2015
Gene Templeton died on Saturday, January 10, 2015 at St. Luke's Meridian
Hospital, Meridian, Idaho.
Gene was born on October 20, 1928 in Kiowa, Kansas to Marlin O. and
Nadine (Hoke) Templeton. He graduated from Kiowa High School in 1946
and received a Bachelors degree from Arizona State. In 1952, with
a strong desire to fly, Gene enlisted in the military. He stated he
was inspired to be a pilot after years of hunting as a young man and
watching fowl fly and land on Kansas ponds. He aspired to fight in
War World II like his cousin and relatives but was barely too young.
After graduating from Flight School, he flew F-86 Saber Jets in the
Korean war where he earned the First Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal
for outstanding achievement in combat. Upon returning stateside Gene
spent time as a T-39 flight instructor as well as spending 5 years
at Mountain Home AFB as a B-47 pilot. In 1967 he was deployed to Vietnam
where he flew Bird Dog for the Army First Calvary and ended his tour
flying F-100 Jets where he successfully completed over 150 flight
missions and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary
achievement as a forward air controller. He went to the aid of an
allied unit pinned down by fire from heavily fortified enemy positions.
Despite intense automatic weapons fire, Gene flew at low altitude
over the area to mark the target and direct tactical close air support
fire power against the enemy.
The balance of Gene's flying career was spent as a pilot of B-52 bombers.
During his highly decorated 30 years as an Air Force Officer he was
also a Base Commander and Vice Wing Commander. Upon retiring as a
Full Colonel he chose to return to Eagle, Idaho where he enjoyed fishing,
hunting and photographing nature. Gene's second career was as Commander
of his neighborhood, caring for friends and neighbors and as the Cookie
Man when he shared his baked goods with Eagle Businesses.
Gene and Lou, his wife of 47 years, raised two children; Gene Templeton
and Sheryl (Templeton) Barrios. He will always be remembered as a
very loving and supportive father, grandfather and role model instilling
traditional values and patriotism in his family. As grandfather, Gene
played a key role in the lives of his four grandchildren: Lauren (Templeton)
Garringer, Scott Templeton, Kyle Bollig and Sean Bollig.
Gene was preceded in death by his wife, Lou and grandson, Kyle Bollig.
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/idahostatesman/name/marlin-templeton-obituary?id=32401651
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