Colonel Jack J. Isler
Colonel Jack J. Isler, was a highly decorated Combat Infantry Officer and Special Forces veteran who served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Jack Isler was a graduate of Oklahoma City University with a BS degree in Education and was a standout baseball player there and in 1992 was inducted into the Oklahoma City University Hall of Fame as a baseball player. Later he received a MS in Counseling and Guidance from New York University-Siena College.
In a nutshell, Jack Isler was a soldiers soldier who served in all enlisted ranks before going to OCS at Fort Benning. Jack Isler retired in 1971 as a Colonel with 29 years active duty and was highly decorated. He died in 2000 of lung cancer.
Obituary: COL Jack J. Isler of Cathedral City, California, died on October 13, 2000.
He was born on August 9, 1923 in Curry County, New Mexico, to Robert Bryant Isler and Hazel Sharp Isler, he entered the United States Army in 1942 and retired as a full Colonel in 1971 after 29 years with the U.S. Army Special Forces.
He was awarded the Purple Heart, two Bronze Stars, two Combat Infantry Badges, eleven Battle Campaign Stars, three Legions of Merit, two Air Medals and a Master Parachutist Badge.
A teacher and coach in Oklahoma City from 1948 to 1950, he had been an apple orchardist since 1971.
He is survived by his wife, Lorraine H. Isler of Cathedral City; son, Major General Roderick Isler of Fort Meade, Maryland; stepson, Jerry Covey of Maui, Hawaii; stepdaughter, Connie Cutler of Montesano, Washington; brother, Cecil Isler of Albuquerque, New Mexico; ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
He was a member of the Retired Officers Association, Disabled American Veterans Association and Special Forces Association.
He received a B.S. in Education from Oklahoma City University; MS, Counseling and Guidance, New York University-Siena College. He attended US Army Infantry Officers Candidate School, US Army Command and General Staff College and US Army Special Forces School.