Col. Kenneth W. Cordier Committal Service & Reception

Kenneth William Cordier

FEBRUARY 16, 1937 – JUNE 18, 2024

In Loving Memory
Col. Kenneth W. Cordier, age 87, of Plano, Texas passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. An interment service with full military honors for Colonel Cordier will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, July 12, 2024 at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, TX. Cars should line up in Lane 2 no later than 10:45am.

Ken Cordier was born on February 16, 1937 in Canton, Ohio. He was commissioned through the Air Force ROTC program at the University of Akron on July 16, 1960, and was trained as a Minuteman Missile Launch Officer in 1961, later serving as an instructor in the course before entering Undergraduate Pilot Training in January 1963. Lt Cordier was awarded his pilot wings on December 19, 1964, and then completed F-4 Phantom II Combat Crew Training. He then flew F-4s with the 45th Tactical Fighter Squadron at MacDill AFB, Florida, and then flying combat missions in Southeast Asia with the 45th TFS in January 1965 while deployed to Ubon RTAFB, Thailand. Cordier volunteered for a second combat tour in June 1966, this time flying out of Cam Ranh Bay AB in the Republic of Vietnam. On December 2, 1966, while flying his 176th combat mission, Cordier was forced to eject over North Vietnam after his F-4 took a direct hit from a surface-to-air missile. He was immediately captured and spent the next 2,284 days as a Prisoner of War before being released during Operation Homecoming on March 4, 1973. After hospitalization, he attended the Armed Forces Staff College and then requalified to fly jet fighters. From 1979 to 1981, he directed the flying operations at Sembach AB in West Germany, and was then selected to command the reactivation of Wiesbaden AB, also in West Germany. He met his future wife, Barbara Leighton, in Germany where they were married on June 7, 1980. Col Cordier served as Air Attache to the United Kingdom, based at the U.S. Embassy in London, from 1982 until his retirement from the Air Force on January 31, 1985. After his retirement, Ken represented British Aerospace in Washington, D.C., as Director of Military Aircraft. Col Cordier wears Command Pilot Wings as well as the Air Force Missile Badge, and accumulated over 2,000 flying hours in fighter aircraft during his Air Force career.

Colonel Cordier served as President of NAM-POWs and the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association. He was a past Commander of the Dallas Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars. He was a Charter Member of the Dallas Veterans Day Parade, serving as Grand Marshall twice. He served as Chairman and President of the Dallas Military Ball, was inducted into the Combat Aviators Hall of Fame, was an Honorary American Fighter Ace, and was awarded the annual DAR Medal of Honor. He was a member of Quiet Birdmen and a 32nd degree Mason. Because of his faith in Jesus Christ, Colonel Cordier was inducted into the Roaring Lambs Hall of Fame, receiving the Profiles in Courage Award.

Ken is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Barbie; a daughter, Ann Weaver; granddaughters, Hannah and Shelby of Seattle, Nicole; and a great-grandson, Alex of Hawaii. His son, Louie, predeceased him in 2006, leaving their daughter-in-law, Catherine Melby of Missouri.

An interment service with full military honors for Colonel Cordier will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, July 12, 2024 at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, TX. Cars should line up in Lane 2 no later than 10:45am. Reception following at Dallas Baptist University, Pilgrim Chapel, downstairs, 3000 Mountain Creek Parkway.

His Celebration of Life service will be held from 2:00-4:00 PM Saturday, July 13, 2024 at the Frontiers of Flight Museum by Love Field, 6911 Lemmon Avenue, Dallas. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Roaring Lambs Ministries, 17110 Dallas Parkway, Suite 260 Dallas, TX 75248 or online at www.RoaringLambs.org/donate

Services

FRIDAY,JULY 12, 2024

Committal service with full Military Honors

11:00 am

DALLAS-FORT WORTH NATIONAL CEMETERY

2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy Dallas, TX 75211

Reception

DALLAS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY

3000 Mountain Creek Pkwy Dallas, TX 75211

The gravesite service for Ken Cordier will take place with full Military Honors at the Dallas – Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, July 12. This is a time-sensitive interment service and as such will start precisely on time (1100 hours) which means 100% of those in attendance MUST BE PRESENT NOT LATER THAN 1030 hours in Lane #1 for staging and positioning. Further precise details will be provided to those who will be pre-identified as “Patriot Guards” and “Honor Guards.” Your special roles are essential to the success of this sacred event. Every person present will make a difference – your being there makes all the difference!

Parking: Severely limited within the Cemetery grounds, therefore car-pooling is urged. In addition, special arrangements for “overflow parking” has been set at Dallas Baptist University, DBU, (3000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas). Arrival here by 1000 hours will allow you plenty of time to make everything work. Please coordinate with your associates and carpool from your home. If arriving separately, plan to meet at DBU’s parking lot and leave one vehicle there.

Elements of the service: The official Air Force Honor Guard will provide pall bearers (all casket handling), 21 Gun Salute, TAPS, flag protocol and delivery of the final flag to Mrs. Barbie Cordier. An official 4-ship overflight (a real “Kodak Moment”) will take place as well! Following the eulogy by the Pastor, a reception will be held at Dallas Baptist University. This event is open for all attendees. Please come.

SATURDAY,JULY 13, 2024

A Celebration of Life

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

FRONTIERS OF FLIGHT MUSEUM

6911 Lemmon Ave Dallas, TX 75209