Charles “Charlie” Henry Field, Jr., Major, USAF (Retired)
July 8, 1926 – May 22, 2016

Maj. Charles “Charlie” Henry Field, Jr., USAF, Ret., of Austin, passed away May 22, 2016. He was 89 years old.

Charlie was born July 8, 1926 to Charles, Sr. and Dorothy Field in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1944 Charlie joined the United States Army Air Corp to train as a pilot. He soon met the former Frances Louise Beauchamp, a nurse in the Women’s Army Corps. They married in 1948 and had two sons, Michael and Charles, III.

During the Korean Conflict, Charlie served as an H-5 helicopter pilot with the newly formed 3rd Air Rescue Squadron where he rescued airmen who had been downed behind enemy lines and in enemy waters. A particular rescue of four South African Air Force pilots in Sinmak, North Korea in April, 1951 was recognized, and he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Silver Star.

Following his retirement from the United States Air Force in 1966, Charlie worked for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as chief pilot in the aerial wildlife law enforcement division. He retired from the State of Texas in 1988.

Charlie is preceded in death by parents, his sister, Dorothy Mashburn, and his wife, Frances Louise Field.

He is survived by sons, Michael (Pattie) Field of Austin, Texas, and Charles H. (Brenda) Field, III, of Kerrville, Texas; grandchildren, Robin (Peter) Haralambous, Ronald (Heather) Field, Logan Field, and Chelsea True; great-grandchildren, James, Kyra, Lacey, Macaden, Norie, Elex, and Owen; and great-great-granddaughter, Bailee.

A graveside service will be held at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery.
Condolences may be sent at: www.HarrellFuneralHomes.com