Earl Joseph Hunter Jr.

Earl Joseph Hunter, Jr.. A Historical Legacy of Life and Love “I, Earl Joseph Hunter, Jr. was born on March 19, 1945. I grew up just as a small farm boy with a strong Christian family background at First Union Baptist Church, Ellerson/Mechanicsville, VA. My first seven years of attending elementary schools occurred at Pole Green and Pleasant Grove Schools. My high school, John M. Gandy High School, was located in Ashland, VA. Virginia State College, in Petersburg, VA, was my only choice of colleges, as my counselor and mentor, Mr. John R. Fleming, Sr., attended there and encouraged me to do so as well. My interest in Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) led me to be a part of the Rifle Team and also, the Drill Team, the Pershing Rifles (named after Gen. John Joseph Pershing who commanded an All-Black Unit in World War I). The Drill Team, Pershing Rifles and Advanced ROTC also included: John Fleming, Maurice Hilliard, Franklin Matthews, Freddie McLaughin, Ashley Ricks, and Posey Young. In 1968, I was a member of the baseball team that was brought back to Virginia State. College. In 1969, I graduated from Virginia State College in Petersburg, with a Bachelor of Science, Vocational Industrial Education (with a concentration in Electronics). Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant to Active Duty in 1969, I entered the U.S. Army and attended Infantry Officer School in Fort Benning, Georgia. My Squad Leader, who was a pilot and had two tours of duty in Vietnam encouraged me to apply for Flight School and I earned my wings as an Aviator/ Helicopter Pilot. Once finishing Officer School, my first permanent duty station was Fort Ord, California. During my four months there, I transferred to the Signal Corps Division and received my orders for Flight School to Fort Walters, Texas. The first 4 1/2 months of Flight School was at Fort Walters, Texas, and then 4 1/2 months in Fort Rucker, Alabama. Vietnam was inevitable after Flight Helicopter School; I logged in six hundred (600) plus flight hours in less than seven months as a Rotary Wing Helicopter Pilot in Vietnam. I was assigned to 6 /14 AHC (Assault Helicopter Company). My Unit, stationed in Can Tao, Vietnam in the Delta, supported the South Vietnamese Army and we conducted combat assaults, re- supply of supplies, and medical evacuations. I earned numerous Army Accommodations and Awards and during the Combat Assaults, earned the Bronze Star Medal for evacuating our downed Aircraft and rescuing the Gun Ship Platoon Leader and his Gunship Crew who were shot down on a Combat Assault Mission. Returning home from Vietnam after tour duty,I was stationed at Ft. Lee in Petersburg, VA. I traveled to the District of Columbia, requesting a long-term assignment, with thoughts of making the military a long-term commitment at that time. Assigned to Germany as a Communications Officer to a Field Artillery Unit, I was the only pilot in the whole Artillery Battalion, and I was required to maintain 80 hours of Flight time a year, which I accomplished each year in Germany. My next extended military assignment was in serving as a Signal Corp Officer in an Artillery Unit and Aviator/Pilot in Germany. After being stationed in Germany, I returned to the United States and home and then entered the Virginia Army National Guard. While in Germany, my Branch, the Signal Corps cut out 2100 of the 2700 Signal Corps Officers. It was then, that I spoke with my buddy, Recruiter Frazier Brooks, and he explained to me about the National Guard and the US Army Reserves located in Richmond, VA. I chose the VA Army National Guard Unit, at Byrd Airport, which stationed the same helicopters that I was qualified in and flew in Vietnam and Germany (OH58’s and Hueys). I was required to meet and maintain qualification criteria in the “check ride.” The “check ride” required you to fly with an Instructor Pilot who required you have mastery in flying instruments, the “nap of the earth”, as well as emergency flying procedures, such as engine failure, transmission failure, caution lights and night flying. Some of my flying duties required pilots to pick up military officers and transport them to the Pentagon, in Washington D.C. for meetings. Being a part of the National Guard, offered me an opportunity to land on my Father’s property in Hanover County to re-fasten a few aircraft panels. My total Military Flight Time over five years as a Helicopter Pilot amounted to 1,046 flight hours.” My heart fills with strong emotions to know that all of my children and a grandson have honorably served our country with valor and courage in the military as well. From my marriage to Shanor Tanner Holt, we had one daughter, Tamie Tanya and three sons Mark Douglas, Brian Earl, and Eric Joseph. I have been united in holy matrimony to Francine Aytes Hunter for twenty-five years, for whom I deeply prayed to come into my life and who will eternally remain the love of my life. I entered corporate America in 1975 and retired from Altria / Philip Morris, Inc. In 1976, I found myself becoming involved with my children’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). Some might share that I followed I historical footsteps and journey of my Grandfather Lucian Hunter, who persistently went before the Hanover County School Board on countless occasions advocating for public bus transportation for African American children as early as 1935. After that, how could I not do my due diligence in advocating for the needs of all Hanover County students? After continuing an active role in the PTO for sixteen years, I was then appointed to represent the Henry District of the Hanover County School Board in Hanover, Virginia. During my tenure, I also served as a School Board member at the state level with the Virginia School Boards Association serving School Boards throughout the state of Virginia. I was elected I President of the Virginia School Boards Association, in 2002, and continued my pursuit in advocating for education for all students. I additionally served as an Advisory Board Member for the Memorial Regional Medical Center Community 1996-2004; Hanover Parks and Recreation, 1997-2010; National Federal Relations Committee, Board of Directors – Virginia School Board Association, 1997-1999; Virginia State Board of Education Special Committee to “No Child Left Behind”; and served on the Special Education Advisory Panel – Hanover County School Board, 2002-2010. From 2013-2015, I was the representative to the Hanover Education Foundation. My Grandfather Lucian Hunter received a Certificate of Recognition and a Proclamation from the Virginia General Assembly and Governor James Gilmore and I received a Proclamation from Hanover County Board of Supervisors, upon my retirement from the Hanover County School Board, after serving twenty-four years. Over the years during my life’s experiences (in serving my county, state, and country), and traveling abroad, my journey has exposed me to a number of diverse cultures and religions. I felt that there was more teaching and living that each of us should be responsible for knowing the fullness of the Gospel and it has been like a new birth. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and am featured in the book, “My Lord, He Calls Me - Stories of Faith By Black American Latter-Day Saints”, Alice Faulkner Burch, General Editor. I am also featured in the book, “The 600 m.o.l. Black Helicopter Pilots in Vietnam, Second Edition -Tuskegee Glory” written by Dr. Joe Ponds. I have always enjoyed athletics, golfing, fishing, football, the Washington Commanders, gardening, traveling, fresh country air and family activities. I am thankful for the continued Hunter legacy of our grandchildren and great-grandchildren and attending their activities. I am a member of the American Legion, Post#175, Mechanicsville, Virginia; Lifetime Member of the Vietnam Helicopters Pilots Association; Lifetime Member of the Hanover Chapter - NAACP; Charter Member of the Vassar W. Hurt III Memorial Military Scholarship, Organization - Virginia State University ROTC; and the Board of Directors Member - Hanover Tavern Foundation. Those who have gone on to glory before me include: my parents, Earl, Sr. & Pearl; my sister, Yvonne; our granddaughter, Shauna Williamson; extended grandson, Brandon Snead, other ancestors and loved ones. To cherish my memories, I entrust to you my beloved wife Francine Aytes Hunter; daughter Tamie (Gui) Williams, and sons: Mark (Jodi) Hunter; Brian and Eric (Erika) Hunter; extended daughters: Yvette (Ashaki) George, Faye Pryor, and Melody (Bruce) Minor; grandchildren: Michael Williamson, Jasmine Williams, Jasmyn Williamson, Cameron Davis, Jordan Williams, Sydney Williamson, Justin Williams, Jaci Hunter, Brandon Hunter, Cristian Hunter; and Zoe Hunter; extended grandchildren: Shaun Snead, Stephanie Snead, and Brittani Parham; great-grandchildren: Aryana Williamson, Matteo Williamson-Lanier, Mylah Williamson, Ava Williamson, and Dakota Sykes; extended great-granddaughter SaMya Snead-Cole; Sisters: Stella (James) Henderson; Janet (Julian) Shelton, Sr. and Wendy Hunter Hill; nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, special friends and brothers and sisters for life.

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Earl Joseph Hunter Jr.

March 19, 1945 - October 25, 2024