Gerald Bertram Massey – Colonel, United States Air Force

From a contemporary press report:

Gerald Bertram Massey, 77, an Air Force Colonel and ordnance officer who retired in 1980 as an on-site nuclear weapons inspector for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, died of a stroke January 21, 1999 at the Manor Care Nursing Center in Arlington. He had Alzheimer’s disease.

Colonel Massey, a resident of Alexandria since 1988, was born in Lilbourn, Missouri. He graduated from the University of Omaha. He began his military career as an enlisted man in the Army Air Forces in World War II and transferred to the Air Force when it became a separate service in 1947.

He had overseas assignments in Okinawa, Japan, France, Belgium, Germany and Vietnam. His military decorations included two awardings of the Meritorious Service Medal.

In Alexandria, Colonel Massey attended meetings of the Elks Lodge and the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

His marriage to Georgia Massey ended in divorce. His second wife, Barrie Lynn Massey, died in 1993.

Survivors include a son of his first marriage, Gerald B. Massey of Alexandria; a daughter, Barbara Sue Valentine of San Rafael, Calif.; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A son, George Michael Massey, died in 1995.

MASSEY, GERALD BERTRAM, Col., USAF (Ret.)

On January 21, 1999, at the Manor Care Nursing Center, father of Barbara M. Valentine and Gerald B. Massey. Also survived by seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Inurnment Arlington National Cemetery Columbarium on Monday, February 8, 1999. Family and friends are invited to assemble at 10:30 a.m. at the Administration Building.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard