Jesse D. Bergquist 1919-2003
One of the Air Force's first Chief Master Sergeants and a long-time fixture in the San Antonio square dance scene, Jesse Dewey Bergquist of Universal City died at his home Wednesday, the 10th of December after a long period of declining health. He was 84 years old.
Born in 1919 the eldest son of an Idaho farming couple, Mr. Bergquist worked as a farm hand, cowboy, and mechanic between high school graduation in 1936 and when he was drafted into the Army 1941. During the Second World War, Mr. Bergquist’s leadership skills were recognized and he was promoted from a draftee private to the top non-commissioned rank of Master Sergeant in just over two years. He was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses for valor during aerial combat operations with the 5th Air Force in New Guinea. Discharged at the end of the war, he returned to Idaho with his Australian war bride and worked as an auto mechanic. The first photograph to the right was taken in 1945.
When the Korean War broke out, he volunteered for active duty and was recalled into the U.S. Air Force. This time, he made the Air Force a career and fought for his country in yet another war. He was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service at Danang Air Base, Vietnam during the Tet Offensive of 1968. During his long tenure as head of base operations at Randolph Air Force Base in the 1960s, he oversaw the introduction of the T-38/Talon into the local area in 1962.
After his retirement from the Air Force in 1970, he and his family returned to San Antonio to live and work. He worked for USAA for a number of years before retiring a second time in 1981. A square and round dancer since the early 1960s, Mr. Bergquist was president of the San Antonio Square Dance Association from 1964 to 1965 and, with his wife, Shirley, helped organize the National Square Dance Festival in the Alamo City in 1974. In his retirement, Mr. Bergquist kept busy with his life-long hobby of carpentry, building furniture for his family and friends. The second photo to the right was taken about 1995.
Mr. Bergquist was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Shirley Powell Rawson Bergquist, who died in 1991 at the age of 68.
He is survived by two daughters, Catherine Bergquist of San Antonio and Kristine Svaglic (and husband, Dale) of Kansas City, Missouri; two sons, David Bergquist (and wife, Jackie) of Houston and Ronald Bergquist (and wife, Drucilla) of Pinebluff, North Carolina; four grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter; a sister, June Gailey of Idaho, five brothers, Leon Bergquist of Idaho, Keith Bergquist and Ralph Bergquist of Utah, Gordon Bergquist of Nevada, and Max Bergquist of California.
Born
30 May 1919 in Glendale (Franklin County), Idaho
Died
10 December 2003 in Universal City, Texas
buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Texas
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