Harry Ziegler Obituary

Harry Edward (Ed) Ziegler, age 91, a resident of Colorado Springs, passed peacefully on November 4, 2011 after a year-long illness. Ed was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to the late Eva J. and Edward T. Ziegler. He was married to his beloved Alma for 68 years. Ed saw combat as an Artillery Forward Observer during World War II. Following the war, he was the Executive Officer of the War Crimes trial of the famous Japanese General Tomoyuki Yamashita. During the Korean War, Ed was one of the first 50 helicopter pilots in the army and flew medical evacuation missions for the 8076 MASH. He is credited with evacuating over 700 patients to MASH. He received special recognition from the Commander of the II Corps of the Republic of Korea Army for "Operating under adverse conditions in close proximity to the enemy to evacuate gravely wounded soldiers." He pioneered the use of helicopters at high altitude while stationed at Fort Carson from 1952 until 1955. He was qualified in both fixed wing and rotary air craft, and held in high regard for his flying skills. He retired from the Army as a Major in 1965, and became the Civilian Operations Officer at Butts Army Air Field on Fort Carson, retiring form civil service in 1983. He was an on-site consultant during the productions of the TV series MASH, and is mentioned many times in the book MASH by Dr. Otto Apel. He is also mentioned in at least 8 other books. Some of his many service medals include the Army Air Medal with one cluster, Philippine Liberation Medal with one battle star, Asiatic Pacific Medal with one battle star and the Korean Service Medal with three battle stars. He was a member of the Retired Officers Association, belonged to The Order of the Daedalians, Past President of the Fort Meade and Fort Carson Chapters of the Army Aviation Association of America and Past President of the Dutch Nelsen Chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association. Ed is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Alma; son, Brian Edward (wife Lisa) Ziegler of Colorado Springs; daughter-in-law Charlotte Hoffman of Euless, Texas; nine grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Gregory and two great grandchildren. Funeral services with full military honors will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at the Shrine of Remembrance "America the Beautiful" Chapel. Burial will be at the Woodland Park Cemetery along side of his son, Gregory Alan Ziegler.