SEELEY, JACK MARDIS, In 1944, Sgt. Jack Seeleys F7 Tigercat lost an engine while flying over the Japanese-held Wewak area of New Guinea. To crash-land in the jungle below meant certain death, either at impact or at the hands of the half-starved Japanese defenders. The F7 lurched, sputtered, and limped to safety at Biak Island. With this turn of fate, instead of dying a 19-year-old at war Sgt. Seeley lived another 62 years, finally succumbing to heart failure Monday morning in Dallas. The son of the late Kash and Nettie Seeley of London, Kentucky, Seeley served with the 20th Combat Mapping Squadron during World War II. His squadrons air wing flew photo reconnaissance missions over enemy-held islands, preparatory to bombing and invasion. Seeley participated in the liberation of the Philippines, surviving strafing attacks and a Japanese paratrooper assault near his unit at Leyte on Dec. 7, 1944. Following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and Japanese surrender, he served with U.S. occupation forces in Japan. In 1966, he was one of four Chief Master Sergeants throughout the Air Force nominated to serve on the staff of the Air Force Chief of Staff at the Pentagon. After 27 years in the Air Force, he retired in 1969 and moved to Dallas, where he spent 17 years working for the U.S. Postal Service. During that time, he was graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in history from the University of Texas at Dallas. An avid golfer, voracious reader and sports fan, Seeley was a member of the Bob Glaze Sunday school class and a past deacon at Park Cities Baptist Church. Some of his happiest hours in recent years were spent playing bridge with his friends at the Shepherds Center. Seeley is survived by his wife, Mae Jeter Seeley; his sons Jack, David and Mike; his daughter Sharon Hayes; and five grandchildren: Brady, Anthony, Andi, Josh and John. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday in the Wesley Chapel of Lovers Lane United Methodist Church, 9200 Inwood Road at the intersection of Inwood and Northwest Highway. Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, his family requests that a donation be made to: Shepherds Center, 6411 LBJ Freeway, Dallas, TX 75240.
Published in The Dallas Morning News on 3/29/2006
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