Rosenthal Lt. Col. USAF

ROSENTHAL, LT. COL. HERBERT M., USAF, 83, passed away this week on Thursday, September 26, 2013, five days short of his 84th birthday. His marriage to his wife Susan lasted through 61 years of TDY's, constant moves, and raising a son, Steven, and a daughter, Lisakay. They retired to New Mexico with many happy trips to ports of call around the world along the way. Herbert entered service to his country in 1952, and had a career spanning 26 years. He was an electrical engineer, a Senior Navigator, and an inventor who could solve almost any puzzle. He taught at the opening of the Air Force Academy. He achieved many things. He was awarded the Joint Services Commendation Medal twice: once for his achievements in military telecommunications during the Vietnam War for inventing and implementing the first frequency-changing radio signal technology, which allowed downed American and RVN pilots to call for help and be safely rescued without Viet Cong detection, and the second time for service in the 1960's Aleutian Island testing programs. He invented and refined many classified projects still in use today for the Armed Forces. He was also awarded the Medal of Honor, First Class, of the (former) Republic of Vietnam for the previously mentioned project and many other classified projects and dozens of missions that accrued towards his Senior Navigator rank award. He was a lifelong ham radio operator and deployed in that capacity during times of emergency as well as serving as a check-in point during the Iditarod Race many times, which he really enjoyed. He qualified for a commercial radio license in high school and worked at station WOLF in Syracuse, New York. Lt. Col. Rosenthal will be interred in the Santa Fe National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the New Mexico Veterans Memorial Park. Please visit our online guestbook for Lt. Col. Rosenthal at www.FrenchFunerals.com.