Ben Marksbury Pollard

Ben Marksbury Pollard February 27, 1932 - November 11, 2016 San Diego Colonel Ben Pollard was born in Shelbyville, Kentucky and graduated in engineering from Purdue University. It was at Purdue that Ben met the love of his life, Joan! They spent a short time together at Caterpillar (gaining a streak of yellow paint in their blood) before Ben entered into the Air Force and Pilot Training. Ben would fall in love again with flyingthe thrills, the excitement, the other pilots and especially teaching students to fly complex, difficult airplanes. It was a love affair at first sight.Then it was back to Purdue for a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering before the family, now three with son Mark, headed for the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. It was another love affair for everyone: the mountains of Colorado, skiing, the West and teaching engineering to some of the best students, ever! Along came daughter, Ginny, who then completed the family. Teaching in the spectacular AFA teaching facilities with dedicated, bright, fellow instructors and their families made for wonderful camaraderie.But all good things must end. Ben was selected to fly the F105 (another love) for possibly one of the most dangerous missions in Vietnam as the first crew in Ryan's Raiders. He was shot down on his 11th mission, after which the Ryan's Raiders mission was thankfully ended. Ben spent almost six years as a POW in the infamous Hanoi Hilton, while Joan would be both wonderful mother and father to Mark and Ginny. For 3 years of the 6, his family would not even know if Ben was alive. He came home with many physical difficulties but to a happy, healthy, wholesome family. After returning to the AFA, he taught Aeronautical Engineering. He was then promoted to Colonel and was selected to be one of the two Deputy Commandants. He was charged with all military training, soaring and survival tactics. He was especially proud of playing a lead role in bringing the first class of women to the Academy, accomplishing the task in a mere 9 months. In 1976, he became Commander of the AFA Preparatory School, while also being a sailplane instructor. After leaving the Air Force, he served as Vice President of STARNET Corporation, a small pioneering telecommunication company, as well as President of the NAMPOW Vietnam POW organization. Ben Pollard received the Distinguished Engineering Award from Purdue University in 1979 and was the recipient of an Honorary PhD in 2012 from Purdue University. During his Air Force career, he also received two Silver Stars, two Legions of Merits, two Bronze Star Medals with the "V" Device to signify combat heroism, and two Purple Hearts.In recent years, computers, teaching computers, theatre, the symphony, the family and worldwide travel with Joan became his new loves. Most of all, his heart burst with pride as he watched the wonder of the accomplishments of his family, Mark with Laurie, and Ginny with Steve, and grandchildren Rachel and Sarah Pollard and Dave and Tom Lorenc.Throughout his career, he proved to be both a courageous and exemplary leader, innovator, and educator. In his words, "We had many twists and turns, but Life was a Blast!Services will be held at 10:30, Friday, Dec. 2 at the RB Community Presbyterian Church, 17010 Pomerado Road, Rancho Bernardo, CAGifts in loving memory can be made to Free Wheelchair Mission, 15279 Alton Parkway, Suite 300, Irvine, CA 92618