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It is with saddened hearts that we announce the death of Jack Dorn Chamberlain after a long and hard fought battle with cancer. He was a fighter to the very end. He passed away on February 16, 2023 at his home in Corpus Christi, Texas surrounded by his family.
Jack’s dynamic personality was a force in whatever room he entered. Family, friends, and strangers alike were drawn to his presence. He expressed his love of family and country in many ways, never leaving any doubt about his values. He was humble, honorable, kind and generous to his family and friends. He enjoyed sports, RVing, boating, going to the beach, music, watching old cowboy movies and spending time with family especially his grandsons and great granddaughters. He and his wife Pam raised a family and traveled the world together through his military assignments and after working for Lockheed Martin/BAE Systems. They were married 60 years until her death.
He enlisted in the Army, went to Officer Candidate School, became a helicopter pilot and served two tours of duty in Vietnam. He continued his service for 20 years. He served all over the world from Taiwan, Europe, the Pentagon and multiple U.S. installations throughout the United States. While in Army he continued his education, he received a Bachelor of Professional Aeronautics and Business Management Degrees from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He then went on to complete a Master of Science from American Technological University. During his service to his country Jack received the following commendation: A Silver Star with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star , Army Aviator Badge and Senior Army Aviator Badge.
After retiring from the Army, Jack spent the next 20 years working for Lockheed Martin and BAE System. He started working for Lockheed on the Super Collider and some work on the systems ofvarious aircrafts. In 1988 he went to work at the Skunk Works on a new proposal for a new system of the F-22 Raptor. He later worked on a project that would eventually become the Dark Star program, a proof of concept for a new type of resonance system. He left the program and moved to Ft. Worth, Texas where he work with BAE Systems on the F-35.
Jack leaves behind to cherish him, his daughter, Kim Salyers and son-in-law, Fred Salyers; his grandsons, Matthew Salyers, and grand daughter-in-law, Kimberly Salyers, Justin Chamberlain and fiancé Jayci Stone, and Randal Chamberlain; his two great granddaughters, Riley Salyers and Brooklyn Salyers; his brother Tamberlyn Chamberlain, Mike Chamberlain and sister-in-law, Jean Chamberlain; his brother-in-law, Marshall Hennequin and sister-in-law, Donna Hennequin; andmany beloved nieces and nephews.
Jack is preceded in death by his wife, Pamela Jane Chamberlain, and his son, Jeffrey Dorn Chamberlain, his father Tamberlyn Chamberlain, and mother Agnes Chamberlain; his father-in-law, Charles Hennequin; mother-in-law, Elizabeth Rose Hennequin;his brother-in-law Harry Hennequin and sister-in-law Gladys Hennequin.
Jack’s and Pam’s final resting place will be Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville, New York in May. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in his name to Friends of Nurses on Wheels, 1101 3rd Street, Corpus Christi, TX 78404.
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Bob Harris
Jack was a devoted husband, father and just all around good person. I visited Jack in the hospital this past November, where I met his wonderful grandson Justin. I knew then Jack was in good hands. Jack was admired by all who knew him at CHS. He was always quick to laugh, always positive, polite, loyal, genuine and helpful. Although he is a part of our graduation class, he did not graduate with us, as he had to pick up a few more credits in summer school. I only bring that up as a comparison to his later achievements.
The following is a very abridged recollection of several long conversations I had with Jack over the years. I wish I would have recorded or taken notes as his story is so unique, exciting and noteworthy that it deserves publishing. I was hoping that I would be able to have another long conversation when I visited him in the hospital this past November, but alas he was just too ill. He did tell me though, that most of the information in which I was truly interested, he still couldn’t reveal. I asked Jack, “Do you really want to take this important information to your grave?” He responded “I must.”
Jack and Pam Heniquin married after graduation (I believe within a year). He and Keith Willett together joined the army security agency (ASA) in 1962, where they both received their top secret crypto security clearances (a path I too followed in 1963.). After graduation from training as crypto intercept operators, Jack and Keith were assigned to different duty stations. Jack eventually ended up in Nam. Keith landed on a little island at end of the Aleutian Island chain just off the coast of Kamchatka Peninsula Russia called Shemya, Alaska. (I too followed a year after Keith.)
Shortly before Jack was to be discharged, he was offered the chance to become a warrant officer and go to flight school. We really needed helicopter pilots. He graduated initial flight training and went on to train on attack helicopters. Then because he had the top secret clearance he was assigned to the signal corps. The ASA had no aircraft. While in Nam he was involved in top secret extractions and insertions behind enemy lines. He was involved in many extraction of POWs. Jack said that his experience in Nam was very similar to what was portrayed in the movie Apocalypse Now. He also mentioned that the officer portrayed as the "I love the smell of napalm in the morning" character was based on a real guy and that he was a real SOB bastard. An article in the Stars and Stripes military newspaper noted the following decorations Jack earned for his service. A Silver Star, an Air Medal, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart, three Vietnamese Crosses of Gallantry with silver stars.
Following his Nam tours the army sent Jack to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical College in Daytona to earn a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering. He then became involved in training other pilots, and then later as an army liaison officer with Sikorsky to facilitate designing the next generation of helicopters. After discharge he was hired by Lockheed Martin Skunk-Works to assist in designing the next generation of stealth attack aircraft. He was well qualified because of his top secret security clearance, aeronautical engineering degree and combat experience. Pam was not a happy wife, because she did not want another move. She finally had that permanent home she always wanted and was involved with a successful career in real estate. So Jack ended up commuting from Texas to Nevada via unmarked unscheduled aircraft to Skunk-Works located at secure area 51 in the Nevada desert. Skunk-Works was responsible developing the U-2 Spy Plane, SR-71 Blackbird, F-117 Nighthawk, F-22 Raptor, and F-35 Lightning II.
In our conversations Jack spoke much about Skunk Works, yet he was always guarded about revealing too much. In our recent November conversation I pressed him for additional info. He said, I can’t say what they did there, but I can say if I told you there would be great risk to you and your family. Our government is not what it used to be.
His beloved wife Pam suffered a very serious brain aneurism a year or two after our 50th CHS reunion. She was left unable to care for herself and Jack cared for her mostly on his own for several years until her death. Theirs was an inspiring love story.
Pam’s Obituary:
Pamela Jane Chamberlain, passed away on Thursday, June 28, 2018 at her home in Corpus Christi, TX surrounded by her family. She was 74 years old. Born in Hartford, CT on April 8, 1944 to Harry and Elizabeth Hennequin. She leaves behind, to cherish her memories, her beloved husband Jack Chamberlain, her daughter Kim Salyers (Fred), her son Jeffery Chamberlain; grandsons: Mathew Salyers (Kimberly), Justin Chamberlain, Randall Chamberlain; great granddaughter: Riley Salyers, brothers: Harry, And Gladys Hennequin, Marshall, and Donna Hennequin; brother in laws: Tamberlyn Chamberlain, Michael Chamberlain (Jean); many beloved nieces and nephews. Pamela is preceded in death by her father: Harry Charles Hennequin; mother: Elizabeth Rose Hennequin; father in law: Tamberlyn Chamberlain; mother in law: Agnes Chamberlain.
Jacks obituary can be found here. https://www.guardianfhcremation.com/obituary/jack-chamberlain