Bernardo S. "Bernie" Paez

1939 - 2022

PAEZ, Bernardo S. "Bernie"

Bernie passed away peacefully in his sleep on February 7, 2022 in his home in Tucson, AZ. He was born on December 25, 1939, to Bernardo Paez and Ofelia Salazar.

Bernardo was a graduate of Morenci High School class of 1957. He enlisted in the Army in 1962. By 1965, as the Vietnam War was starting to escalate, there was a growing need for the helicopter pilots to ferry infantry troops into combat. Responding to the Army's request, SP4 Paez applied for and was accepted for helicopter flight school.

The first phase of his training was a Fort Wolters, Texas where he learned to fly the Hiller H-3. Advanced flight school was at Fort Rucker, Alabama where he trained on the Bell UH-1 commonly called the "Huey". In August of 1965, Bernie was awarded his wings and the rank of Warrant Officer. After flight school, he was stationed in Fort Lewis, Washington, and Korea before being assigned to Vietnam in July 1966 with the 4th Infantry Division. That year he accumulated 1,358 flight hours.

Duties of Huey pilots included (but not necessarily by degree of danger) inserting troops into combat, resupplying troops, evacuating wounded and dead, recovery of downed aviation crews, command and control, and more. Bernie has written several narratives about his combat experiences, and they are posted on the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association website at: www.vhpa.org

Proudly he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal for Valor. In addition to the decorations noted above, Bernie received the Good Conduct Medal, Army Aviation Badge, National Defense Service Medical, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 device, 2 overseas bars, Army Commendation Medal, and Expert Badge (Carbine).

Returning to the States in July 1967, Bernie was stationed at Yuma Proving Ground before being discharged the following year. Taking advantage of the GI Bill, Bernie attended Arizona State University and ITT in Phoenix. Following program completion, Bernie was employed in the electronics field where he worked for the city of Tucson as a traffic signal technician and communication technician and held supervisor and management positions at manufacturing plants in Mexico and Silicon Valley in California.

He is survived by his two daughters, Diana Norton and Lisa Ryan; his grandchildren, Bradley Schroeder, Megan Arnold, C. Ryan Arnold and Jacob Ryan and great-grandson, Madden Arnold and brothers and sisters, countless family members and friends. Arrangements by SENSIBLE CREMATON AND FUNERALS.