Jesse B. Morris, Jr.

Capt. Jesse Morris, USN (Ret), 79 died Monday, December 17, 2012 surrounded in love by his wife Ann and two sons Scott and Mark. Jesse grew up in Memphis Tennessee. After finishing high school, he joined the NROTC and attended the University of Tennessee. During his time at the University he was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity and learned to fly. He received his private pilot license in April 1954. His love of flying led him to enter the Navy flight training program in January 1955 and after completing Jet training, received his Navy wings in August of 1956. His assignments include a three year tour in Atsugi Japan where he flew photo missions and support missions for the 7th fleet. He broke the sound barrier for his first time in 1957 flying a F9F-8 Cougar. He was a Navy formation and tactics flight instructor for the Naval Air Training Command in the Pensacola area. While there he received the Old Pro award for saving the life of a student aviator that was incapacitated from carbon monoxide poisoning and had to be talked down while flying wing on him. He completed Helicopter training in January 1963. He then completed several tours in anti-submarine warfare in the Atlantic Fleet both as a pilot and on the staff of the Carrier Battle Group Commander. He was attached to NASA for a short period to develop and flight test the camera angles and positions on the helicopter to photograph the astronauts on Gemini and Apollo recoveries. While on the USS Forrestall he received the Winged S award for rescuing a sailor at sea that had fallen off a submarine in heavy seas. After an additional three year tour of operational flying Capt Morris assumed Command of Helicopter Anti Submarine Squadron 1 in July 1972. After completion of a year at the Naval War College he reported to the Naval Air Systems Command for the next five years where he was the engineering Class Desk Officer responsible for all the Navy's H-3 Helicopters and the acquisition of the new VH-3D Presidential Helicopters. After a tour at the Office of Naval Research he was assigned duties at the Naval Research Laboratory where his duties allowed him to be able to resume flying for the next four years. Jesse spent 30 years of active service in the Navy flying off of seven different Aircraft Carriers. He has more than 5000 Flight hours and has flown over 28 types of Navy aircraft. He was qualified in single engine prop a/c, single engine jet a/c, helicopters, multi engine prop a/c, and multi engine turbo prop a/c. Jesse is survived by his wife of 51 years, his two sons, their wives Joanne and Sherrie, and his five grandchildren; Andrew, Kevin, Courtney, Ashley, and Michelle. A service celebrating his life will be held at Westwood Baptist Church on Saturday, December 22, 2012 at 11:00am. The address is 8200 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield, VA 22152. Donations may be made in Jesse's name to woundedwarriorproject.org.

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Jesse B. Morris, Jr.

April 2, 1933 - December 17, 2012