| John J. W. Oberg |
| MEMORIAL |
JOHN J.W. OBERG Colonel, USAF (Ret.) Died
December 30, 2009, at his residence in Gainesville, FL.
Col. Oberg was born February 16, 1919 in Washington,
DC, to Hugo and Julia Oberg.
He graduated from St. John's High School in 1937 and
attended Boston College and Catholic University prior to
WWII. Drafted into the Army in June 1941, he transferred
to and was commissioned in the Army Air Corps. He flew C-47"s with the 313th
Air Transport Squadron in Europe including medevac flights from the D-Day
beachhead during the invasion of Normandy. After the war, he transferred to the
newly-created US Air Force and completed his education graduating with a degree
in International Relations from Georgetown University. Moving into planning and
Intelligence roles, he commanded an AF Security Service station in Formosa in
1955-56 and then moved to the Air Force Staff at the Pentagon. In 1960, he
transferred to SAC serving at Offutt AFB, Omaha, NE, and then CINPAC HQ,
Camp Smith, Honolulu, HI. In 1966, he returned to the Pentagon first with the AF
Staff and then with the DIA. In 1971, he was appointed Commandant of the
Armed Forces Air Intelligence Training Center, Lowry AFB, Denver, CO, and
retired from that position in 1974 as a Colonel. His commendations include the
Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Air Medal.
He married Mary Louise Borger of Washington, DC, in 1947 and together they
raised, Chris (Carol) of Bowie, MD, Marti of Tarpon Springs, FL, Julia Murray
(Jim) of Crestview, FL and Jim (Deborah) of Coarsegold, CA. There are five
grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Col. and Mrs. Oberg moved to
Gainesville in late 1978.
In retirement, he continued to fly with his own aircraft and privately earned
commercial and instructor ratings. He also flew "Angel" flights transporting medical
personnel to locations where they were needed in emergencies.
Col. and Mrs. Oberg also traveled widely. He continued his passion for golf and
played wherever and whenever he could including annual trips to Scotland.
He was a long-time member and a champion of Columbia Country Club, Chevy
Chase, MD, and a member, director, and president of the Gainesville Country
Club. He eventually earned a handicap of 2, four holes-in-one, and shot his age at
77 and 80.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held in Gainesville January 5, 2010. Inurnment
will take place in the Columbarium at Arlington National Cemetery at 2 p.m. on
Monday, December 6, 2010.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held in Gainesville January 5, 2010. Inurnment
will take place in the Columbarium at Arlington National Cemetery at 2 p.m. on
Monday, December 6, 2010.
Published in The Washington Post on December 5, 2010
December 30, 2009, at his residence in Gainesville, FL.
Col. Oberg was born February 16, 1919 in Washington,
DC, to Hugo and Julia Oberg.
He graduated from St. John's High School in 1937 and
attended Boston College and Catholic University prior to
WWII. Drafted into the Army in June 1941, he transferred
to and was commissioned in the Army Air Corps. He flew C-47"s with the 313th
Air Transport Squadron in Europe including medevac flights from the D-Day
beachhead during the invasion of Normandy. After the war, he transferred to the
newly-created US Air Force and completed his education graduating with a degree
in International Relations from Georgetown University. Moving into planning and
Intelligence roles, he commanded an AF Security Service station in Formosa in
1955-56 and then moved to the Air Force Staff at the Pentagon. In 1960, he
transferred to SAC serving at Offutt AFB, Omaha, NE, and then CINPAC HQ,
Camp Smith, Honolulu, HI. In 1966, he returned to the Pentagon first with the AF
Staff and then with the DIA. In 1971, he was appointed Commandant of the
Armed Forces Air Intelligence Training Center, Lowry AFB, Denver, CO, and
retired from that position in 1974 as a Colonel. His commendations include the
Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Air Medal.
He married Mary Louise Borger of Washington, DC, in 1947 and together they
raised, Chris (Carol) of Bowie, MD, Marti of Tarpon Springs, FL, Julia Murray
(Jim) of Crestview, FL and Jim (Deborah) of Coarsegold, CA. There are five
grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Col. and Mrs. Oberg moved to
Gainesville in late 1978.
In retirement, he continued to fly with his own aircraft and privately earned
commercial and instructor ratings. He also flew "Angel" flights transporting medical
personnel to locations where they were needed in emergencies.
Col. and Mrs. Oberg also traveled widely. He continued his passion for golf and
played wherever and whenever he could including annual trips to Scotland.
He was a long-time member and a champion of Columbia Country Club, Chevy
Chase, MD, and a member, director, and president of the Gainesville Country
Club. He eventually earned a handicap of 2, four holes-in-one, and shot his age at
77 and 80.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held in Gainesville January 5, 2010. Inurnment
will take place in the Columbarium at Arlington National Cemetery at 2 p.m. on
Monday, December 6, 2010.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held in Gainesville January 5, 2010. Inurnment
will take place in the Columbarium at Arlington National Cemetery at 2 p.m. on
Monday, December 6, 2010.
Published in The Washington Post on December 5, 2010
