Jerry Santy

Korean War Veteran Grand Marshal
HAV Veterans Day Parade 2025

U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant Jerry Santy (RET)
Goodyear, Arizona

Following in the footsteps of his three brothers, who all served in World War II, Santy joined the military in 1952 upon graduating from high school.  Rather than being drafted into the Korean War, he joined the Air Force.  As his oldest brother was actually at Pearl Harbor, joining the military was one of the few options available to him in those days, since his parents couldn’t afford his college education. 

After completing basic training in Texas and radar training in Colorado, his first assignment was to Yuma, Arizona, not South Korea, as the conflict had ended by 1953. As an airborne avionics technician, he serviced the training aircraft there.  His military career has spanned 17 assignments in 14 states over 20 years, including two full years at Hughes Aircraft Company, where he studied the newest radar systems.   

He served in two wars, Korea and Vietnam, and remembers being on alert status during the Cuban Missile Crisis when he was stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida.  While stationed there, he helped his squadron win the worldwide William Tell Flight Competition in the 1960s. He spent a year in Vietnam with the Spectre Program (technically in Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand, but that was all top secret in those days).  As head of aircraft maintenance of the C-130 gunships, they flew night missions against enemy logistics on the Ho Chi Minh Trail.  Upon his return to the United States, he was promoted to Senior Master Sgt. However, he was informed that he would be promptly returning to Vietnam for an additional tour. After serving one tour in Vietnam, he declined the promotion and instead said he would retire at 20 years as a Master Sergeant. 

After retiring, Santy opened his very successful insurance agency. Continuing his military advocacy, he organized the Montana Military Retirees Association and successfully defeated several anti-military bills in the Montana Legislature.  One bill would have closed the VA Hospital in Helena, MT. Additionally, before Tricare replaced Champus, he initiated two separate federal Congressional investigations of the program, as Champus was inadequately paying military medical bills. 

“In my community, I served on the Board of Directors of a multi-state federal credit union for over 30 years, served on the Board of Child and Family Services, served as Board president of a local mall, and even volunteered for a six-month AKC Collie rescue.  I dedicated many years to youth sports and scouting,” said Santy. “I am proud that my military legacy has been carried on by ten of my children and grandchildren who have served or are currently serving in the military,” he added.   

He is honored to serve as this year’s Korean War Veteran Grand Marshal in the Parade.