Major Allan Conser (ret.) USAR

Major USAR Obituary

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Major Allan Henry Conser USAR (ret.)
December 28th 1916 – July 4th 2014 (97 years, 6 months, 5 days)

He was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years Lelah Elizabeth Brown, Brother Lotus Conser, and Sister Virginia Woodard

They had three Sons and daughter in laws: David and Diann of Newberg, OR, Clifford and Nancy of Pendleton, OR and Timothy and Susan of Castle Rock, CO

Four Grand Children: Shari, Melissa, Jeff, and Jeran

Seven Great Grand Children: Elizabeth, Ashlyn, Jackson, Lillian, Paytyn, Elizabeth, and Conrad.

Allan was a lifelong resident of Portland, Oregon and Descendent of 1848 Pioneers who settled in Jefferson, Oregon.

Allan Henry Conser was born on December 28th 1916 in Portland, Oregon to Homer and Georgia Conser.

His father was a regional automobile dealer for Moons and Stars, predecessors to General Motors products. Allan developed a keen mechanical ability in the back rooms of the dealership. He was driving by the age of 12.

He attended Portland Public Schools and Graduated from Grant High School in 1937.

He married Lelah Elizabeth Brown of Astoria, Oregon in April 1941. They had three sons all of which served in the military, during Viet Nam. Two in the Army, David a dog handler trained in San Antonio and Clifford, who just retired with 38 years from the Oregon Army National Guard as a crew chief on helicopters and various fixed wing aircraft. He is the recipient of the Valley Forge Cross. His third son Timothy was in the Navy in communications.

He and his brother Lodi joined the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP) in 1940 flying out of Sunnyside, Washington about 100 miles Northeast of Portland. Automobile fuel was scarce and rationed during this period but aviation fuel for the CPTP was available and they found that the higher octane worked well in their car. This type of improvising proved to be a crucial skill in all Liaison Pilots.

After Pearl Harbor the Kaiser shipyards were busy in Portland. Allan was employed as a machinist and heavy marine repairman prior to induction.

The Army needed trained pilots with excellent mechanical skills. Liaison Pilots had to be able to fly and also maintain their aircraft. These were the famed “Flying Sergeants”. Allan converted his training under the CPTP and passed the Army pilot exams in Waco, TX. He joined the Army in October 1942 as a Liaison Pilot Staff Sgt. He received his artillery training at Fort Sill, OK in 1943. Upon graduation he was assigned to the 31st Dixie Division and shipped out to Morotai in Dutch New Guinea in the Pacific. As a Liaison Pilot his primary duty was directing artillery fire on enemy targets. They also delivered supplies and the mail to front line personnel. They earned the nick name of “Biscuit Bombers” when one day they dropped the mail into a vat of syrup on a mess line, “Sweet Letters from Home”.

Allan was transferred to the 25th Division when they moved to the Philippines Islands after they had lost two Liaison pilots in one day. He was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action against the enemy on May 5, 1945 in Mindanao by the commanding general of the 10th corps. “On this date, our Infantry was receiving heavy enemy artillery fire. Conser, although he had just returned from a long aerial reconnaissance flight, undertook to locate and adjust fire on the enemy artillery pieces. While searching the suspected area from a dangerously low altitude his plane was fired upon by enemy AAA guns. While adjusting artillery fire the enemy ground fire became more intense and accurate and in despite of repeated warnings to return to the field he remained over the enemy position until their guns were effectively silenced”. Allan was field promoted to Second Lieutenant in Sept. 1945.

His WW II military record at separation under Decorations and Citations shows “Silver Star Medal: Air Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster: American Theater Service Medal: Asiatic Pacific Service Medal with 1 Bronze Stars: Philippine Liberation Medal with 2 Bronze Star: World War II Victory Medal:”.

Despite these extraordinary men in extraordinary circumstances, Allan’s favorite story of his Pacific experience was a commendation that he received for saving a lost C-46 transport with 36 men aboard. He and his crew had acquired a kerosene refrigerator to keep their ice water (beer) cold during the hot Mindanao days. They had also come across a large red CO2 container on wheels that they thought would be handy on the flight line in case a fire ever occurred. When the refrigerator inadvertently caught fire the crew retrieved the red extinguisher to put out the fire. The Japanese apparently marked their tanks differently and they poured oxygen on the fire. The fire flared up over 100 feet. The pilot of the transport thought it was a signal fire marking the airfield for them and safely landed the transport which was running out of gas and running out of hope.

After the War Allan returned to Portland and worked for General Mills.

He served in the Army Reserves for 20 years. He logged hundreds of hours as a Senior Army Aviator flying L-19 Birddogs, with the 104th Division Artillery Vancouver, WA. In 1957 he received a Commendation when a member of a Tank Battalion in Yakima, WA was injured in an impact area. A helicopter evacuation was requested, but all helicopters available were grounded due to high winds and limited ceiling. Allan at his own risk volunteered to fly and land his L-19 in this isolated area on an up hill, un-cleared bank on the side of the Columbia River gorge. He powered the aircraft as far up the hill as he could. They blocked the wheels, and turned it downhill toward the river gorge. The injured man was loaded aboard the plane and the evacuation was accomplished by running downhill about 150 feet and dropping into the Columbia Gorge. He pushed the nose of the aircraft over until enough air speed allowed the Birddog to pull out over the water. Allan retired in 1967 as a Major.

He was a long time member of the Columbia River Yacht Club, annual Christmas Shipper, representative of the Columbia River Yachting Association and sat on the Marine Board. After his Retirement he lobbied and built several Marine Parks along the Columbia River.

He still lived in Portland and jumped at the chance to fly. He recently went flying out of Pearson Airfield in Vancouver, WA with a nephew.

His comment was that there’s a lot of equipment in the cockpit today to distract you from what you’re up there to do, fly!

In 2010 He and four Generations traveled to San Antonio, Texas to attend an annual picnic for the Liaison Pilots Association where he was joined by Harold Clemons (Clem) his Chief Mechanic and lifelong friend from Houston, TX.

Along with his numerous and remarkable accomplishments throughout his lifetime, his legacy will live on in the family he built and the example he set for us all. This man lived his life his way with his eyes on the horizon in a constant forward motion. His was a life fully lived. Through this spirit and zest for life he created memories and childhoods that were full and rich not only for his sons but also for his grandchildren. There are 17 of us now that are lucky enough to call this man Father, Grandpa and Great Grandpa. We thank you all for joining us to honor Allan’s life. Fly high, Grandpa!

Military Services will be performed at Willamette National Cemetery at 10:30 on Friday July 11th 2014. Allan will be interned with Elizabeth (Lizz), to continue their journey. His “Angel on His Pillow” will finally be beside him hand and hand.

With Love David, Clifford, Timothy and their families.

There will be a gathering after the graveside service at the Monarch Hotel, I-205 at Sunnyside Road/Sunnybrook Blvd., 12566 SE 93rd Avenue, Portland/Clackamas, Oregon 97015, (Portland South), 503-652-1515, from 11:30 am to 1:00 p.m. Friday, July 11, 2014.

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One reply on “Major Allan Conser (ret.) USAR”

To know “Grandpa Al” is to love him. The entire Conser family is blessed to have such a wonderful father, grandfather and brother whose memories and family traditions will live on through them.