WHITNEY JOHN M

CW2 John M. Whitney was a VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 07/25/2015 at the age of 66.4
San Mateo, CA
Flight Classes 68-11 and 68-15
Date of Birth 02/14/1949
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with 118 AHC in 68
Call sign in Vietnam THUNDERBIRD
This information was provided by Sammie Williams

More detail on this person: John Michael Whitney, son of Charles and Marcella Whitney, passed away on Saturday, July 25, 2015. He was raised in San Bruno and resided in San Mateo. He served as a Chief Warrant Officer/helicopter pilot for the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and was awarded the Purple Heart.

John always had a joke or unique bit of information to share at all of our family get-togethers, enjoyed reading and sharing all he could find on the early history of Disneyland, and inherited a love of photography from his late father Chuck. Many a Saturday or Sunday you could find him making a solo trip into San Francisco to take unique photos of the old buildings, street fairs, the waterfront, the remodel of Union Square and the people of San Francisco.

He was preceded in death by his father Chuck Whitney in 1977 and his sister Joan Chasseur in 2012. Remaining here and anxious to share more stories and memories of the laughter and joy John brought into our lives are his mother Marcie Whitney, his sisters Janet Burns (Kevin), Sue Scalice (Bill), and Pat Alva (Rudy), his brother Mark Whitney, his cousin Ed Pfeifer, and his brother-in-law Tom Chasseur along with many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephew. We were all so blessed to have him in our lives.

In lieu of flowers please take a picture of a favorite person, place, or thing in your life and hang it up in your house in memory of John. We know he would love that.

There will be a visitation at Duggan's Serra Mortuary 500 Westlake Avenue Daly City, CA 94014 on Wednesday July 29th, from 4:00pm to 9:00pm. The Funeral Mass will be at St. Veronica's Church at 434 Alida Way South San Francisco, CA 94080 on Thursday July 30th at 10:30am.

Published in San Francisco Chronicle on July 28, 2015

This information was last updated 05/18/2016

Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters

Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list

Return to VHPA web site

Date posted on this site: 10/13/2025