Info Sheet - Neal Edmond Avrett, Jr.
Died 26 April 2013
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Obituary
Mr. Avrett was born December 20, 1947 in Augusta, Georgia and lived in Selma, Alabama during his early years. He served in the United States Army in Vietnam as a Crew Chief. Following his military service, he worked with various aircraft maintenance contractors at Fort Rucker as an A & P Mechanic until his retirement in 2003. Mr. Avrett was an avid hunter and fisherman, a loving husband, father, and grandfather.
Survivors include his wife, Marianne Daughtry Avrett of Ozark;
two daughters and one son-in-law, Allyson and Tom Hartman of Prattville, Jennifer Avrett Boone of Ozark;
one son and daughter-in-law, Nick and Lesa Avrett of Ozark;
his Parents, Neal Edmond Avrett, Sr. and Wilma Allison Pynes Avrett of Selma, Alabama; his Mother-In-Law, Mrs. Mary Daughtry of Ozark;
one sister and brother-in-law, Ginger and Jeff Jones of Southlake, Texas;
five grandchildren, Chris Spraker, Jacob Boone, Caitlyn Boone, Ben Garner, and Trevor Crumb.
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From his daughter: to Brian Harrison
Hello, may name is Allyson Avrett Hartman. I believe you were in Vietnam with my dad Neal Avrett. I have seen photos of dad on the website vhpamuseum.org that were taken by you. I don't know if you remember him, but he was a crew chief/doorgunner with F Troop 4th Air Cav. The Huey he flew on was the 35 Pig with Capt. Keirsey. I would be interested in talking with you about him and the time he spent over there and if you have any photos, would like to know if you would share with me. My parents were young when I was born and divorced when I was 4. He was remarried to Marianne when he was in Vietnam. Please email me at m.ally65@yahoo.com
After Vietnam, he returned to Ft. Campbell to finish his duty, then went back to Ozark, Al and worked as a civilian at Ft. Rucker as a mechanic. He loved flying.
From Dan Keirsey:
Sadly I don't have much to add. F/4 had a singular experience as a detached air cavalry troop not co-located with any other unit. The closest Army units would have been south in Danang where the troop maintenance was located - some 70 miles away. Everything the troop had was located on our isolated Island off the coast of VN east of Hue. Therefore the unit formed even tighter bonds due to the close environment and the absence of any other distractions. We couldn't even reliably receive AFN radio. I remember Neal's face and if he crewed 358 (35 pig) I know I flew with him often. Please tell Allyson that he served his country well during a difficult period of an unpopular war.
J. Dan Keirsey
Centaur 27