Herschel Arnold Pahl

April 15, 1920--Oct. 17, 2010

AVA, Missouri -- Captain Herschel Arnold Pahl (USN, retired), 90, died Oct. 17, 2010, at Heart of the Ozarks Care Center in Ava.

He was born April, 15, 1920, on a farm east of Cambridge, Nebraska, to Arnold E "Art" and Mary (Keene) Pahl.

He and his wife, Bonnie B. (Lawrence) Pahl made their home in Douglas County, Missouri, on a farm east of Ava.

He retired as a naval aviator in 1973, after 31 and a half years of activity duty. During World War II, he was a fighter pilot flying the F6F Hellcat fighter plane from four different aircraft carriers in the Pacific: USS Independence, USS Cowpens, USS Intrepid, and USS Hancock. He had three combat tours of duty. After World War II, he continued to serve on aircraft carriers USS Hornet, USS Coral Sea, and USS Wasp.

His last duty assignment was on the the faculty at the University of Nebraska at Kearney where he had previously completed his undergraduate work.

He was a published author of four historical books.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Terrence "Randy" Pahl; and siblings, Harold Pahl, Camilla Orvis and Melva Rucker.

Funeral services were Oct. 21, 2010 at the Ava United Methodist Church with burial in the Ava Cemetery with full military honors by U.S. Navy, Ava American Legion 112 and VFW 5993.

Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or the Ava United Methodist Church.