Cdr. John (Jake) Francis Tierney, Jr., USN retired, passed away on April 21, 2015. He was born to John and Orah Tierney on June 17, 1922 in Broken Bow, Nebraska. He was raised there and in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. He obtained his pilot's license in 1941 while attending college.

In 1942 shortly after the start of World War II he joined the US Navy as an Aviation Cadet and was designated a Naval Aviator and commissioned a Navy Ensign. He was then assigned to a squadron conducting anti-submarine warfare and convoy coverage in the north and south Atlantic and Pacific oceans. His squadron was credited with sinking five German submarines and awarded the Navy Commendation Medal.

At the end of World War II he served on continuous active duty until retiring in 1970. Among many tours of duty were assignments to six different aircraft squadrons including command of a Navy Patrol Squadron, VP-26. He logged over 9,300 accident free military flight hours. He was personally congratulated by President John F. Kennedy for the operations completed by his squadron during the Cuban Quarantine. Further tours of duty were Operations Officer of Fleet Air Wing 3, Executive Officer of the Anti-Submarine Tactical School and Aircraft Handling Officer of the carrier, USS Tarawa. He often talked of his days in the Navy and stated... "I loved every day of it."

Following Naval retirement, he was employed as a Project Engineer by the General Electric Space Division where he worked on the Viking Mars project and a top secret project. He retired from GE in 1987. At the time of his retirement, he was the manager of the Configuration and Data Management Department.

In retirement, he and his wife, Marion enjoyed travel and cruising to Europe and the Caribbean.

A lifelong Catholic, he was a member of the St. George's Parish at Patrick Air Force Base. A funeral mass will be held on April 25, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at South Patrick Chapel, Cocoa Beach, Florida. Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

He was predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Marion, and son Michael and sisters Kathleen and Patricia. He is survived by daughters Sandra Dunlap (Dan) and Kathryn Tierney, sons David Tierney (Jennifer) and John Tierney, III (Carey), brother Bernard J. Tierney of Denver, Colorado, grandchildren, Curtis Redden, Jr., David Tierney, Jr., Amanda Tierney, Michal Tierney and 2 great-grandchildren, Sam and Aly Redden, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. You may sign John's guestbook at www.beckman-williamson.com.

https://www.beckman-williamson.com/obituary/John-TierneyJr

John Francis Tierney, Jr. (1922)