John A. Mihalic, 90
Chief Master Sgt. John Anthony Mihalic, USAF (retired), 90, died of natural causes Jan. 19, 2011, at his residence in Missoula. Chief Mihalic was a 25-year veteran of the armed forces.
He was born Aug. 17, 1920, at home in Livingston, Ill., the son of Nicholas and Sophia (Ruzovic) Mihalic. Throughout his school years he merited awards for academics and attendance, and worked at his uncle’s bakery each morning before school.
Upon graduation from high school, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), worked on roads and bridges in the Works Project Administration, was a foreman for Hayes Freight Lines in St. Louis and was a member of the “Knothole Gang” favoring the Browns and the Cardinals.
With the outbreak of World War II, he volunteered for and was drafted Sept. 18, 1942, entering service at Jefferson Barracks. After basic training he was assigned to the Signal Corps, first at Drew Field in Tampa, Fla., then at Camp Pinedale near Fresno, Calif., where he was trained in signals intelligence and intercept. This began a long career in cryptographic and classified assignments.
He served first in 1943 in North Africa, at Bizerte, Tunisia, then Algiers, Algeria, in the 12th Air Force Service Command. There he met Pfc. Geraldine Mills, a teletype operator in the 6670th WAC HQ Company. In 1944, both of their units moved to Naples, Italy, with the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) Service Command. At war’s end they returned to the United States, where he and Gerry Mills were married Jan. 4, 1946.
Following short stints back with Hayes and with the Indian Service in Mescalero, N.M., he returned to the Air Corps in October 1946 at Chanute Field. Later assignments were to Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, Sondrestrom Air Base (Bluie West 8) in Greenland, Lackland Air Force Base and Randolph Air Force Base in Texas, RAF Bruntingthorpe and South Ruislip Air Station in England, and a final assignment to HQ, Air Force Communications Service at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. He retired Dec. 1, 1967, and was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for his exemplary service in the Fixed Wire Communications and Cryptographic fields.
He spent several years with Western Union, retiring a second time in 1975 to Mascoutah, Ill., where he and Gerry made their home. He gave his time to the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post and enjoyed woodworking, especially intricate projects including classic, handmade wooden toys for his grandchildren.
He and Gerry moved to Missoula in 2007 to be near their children and grandchildren. He was a Life Member of the Mascoutah VFW Post 7682.
His sister, Mary Grega died before him.
He is survived by Geraldine, his wife of 65 years; son, David and Jeri Mihalic of Missoula; daughter, Jonna Mihalic-Hoag of Kalispell; granddaughters, Emily Mihalic and Katherine Hoag; and grandsons, Nicholas Mihalic and Peter Hoag.
Burial and memorial service with military honors will be held at a later date.
“TNX CUL.”