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<p><em>Jennings Herbert “Bud” Mease </em>was born on February 19, 1937 in Greenville, SC to Jennings H. and Ellen (Page) Mease. When Bud was 5 years old, he lost his father, an Army Air Corps pilot, who went missing in action during the early stages of World War II while flying supplies to China over the eastern Himalayas, a treacherous section of the mountains named the “Hump” by Allied pilots.</p>
<p>Several years after the war ended, Bud’s mother got married again, to John S. Neary, a field artillery officer who had also served in World War II. The family moved to Camp Chaffee, AK, where Bud said his career as an Army brat really began. What followed was frequent moves to various Army posts in the United States and Germany, during which he made lifetime friendships with other Army brats. For Bud it was a great experience, even though it meant attending several different high schools, including the American high school in Munich, Germany, where he met his future spouse, Susan Shepard.</p>
<p>Growing up surrounded by the military, Bud developed a strong desire to serve his country. Consequently, his stepfather recommended that he try to attend West Point. His first attempt failed, so instead he applied to and was accepted by the Virginia Military Institute. For Bud it was a great choice because the VMI “rat” experience thoroughly prepared him for plebe year at West Point. Also, his roommate at VMI was Phil Shepard, a classmate from the American high school in Munich, who (although unknown at the time) would become Bud’s future brother-in-law. The next year, Bud was accepted by USMA, entered in June 1956. While at West Point, Bud played football, was a member of the Ski Club and Ski Patrol for four years, and was a champion boxer. Most notable, he was selected to be a battalion commander his senior year, indicative of his maturity and outstanding leadership traits.</p>
<p>After graduating from West Point in June 1960, he became a second lieutenant in the Field Artillery. His first assignment after his artillery basic course was with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Regensburg, Germany. He then returned to the United States and, according to Bud, “…was able to recapture Susan Shepard to be my bride forever.” They were married on September 4, 1964.</p>
<p>Other assignments of which Bud and Susan had fond memories were attending the Navy Command and Staff College in Newport, RI and commanding the 1st Battalion, 83d Field Artillery Regiment, 8th Infantry Division in Baumholder, Germany. All told, his assignments included three tours in Germany; two in Vietnam; one in the Netherlands; the Pentagon; Fort Hood, TX; Fort Sill, OK; and the Presidio of San Francisco. His career culminated as the senior Army advisor to the Utah National Guard, where he received the Minute Man Award for exceptional leadership and service. He retired in 1990 after a rewarding and highly successful 30-year military career.</p>
<p>Upon retirement, Bud and Susan settled down in Sandy, UT at the base of the Wasatch Mountains, where Bud worked for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City for 11 years. Utah was the perfect fit for Bud as he was an avid skier and hiker. It didn’t take him long to become well acquainted with the many trails and slopes of the Wasatch.</p>
<p>Bud and Susan were active members of Saint Thomas Moore Parish in Sandy. While he enjoyed the many activities and gatherings with the church, a favorite past time for him was documenting occasions by taking many pictures and sharing them with church members. Bud was also a charter member of the church’s Knights of Columbus Council.</p>
<p>Bud often said that the smartest decision he ever made was asking Susan Shepard to be his partner for life. Together they formed a team, raising their five children while traversing the globe for the military. Family was always first for Bud. He was a dedicated father, and nothing made him happier than spending time with his wife and their children: Michael, twins Suzann and Stacey, and twins Kristen and Kelli. Bud treasured not only his family but also the many friends he met throughout his life.</p>
<p>Bud’s life took an unexpected turn in 2004 when he received news that the wreckage of a downed World War II cargo plane and human remains had been discovered in a remote region in the Himalaya Mountains. A Department of Defense official at Pearl Harbor identified the wreckage as the C-87 cargo plane piloted by Bud’s father, and DNA techniques confirmed the human remains to be those of his dad and other crew members. For Bud, it was the culmination of many years of wondering about his father, and it provided answers to questions that had lingered for decades, marking a significant moment in his life.</p>
<p>After several years of declining health, Bud passed away peacefully at his home on September 28, 2023. He had spent that morning in the sun gazing at the nearby mountains with his family by his side. He was buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery, alongside the remains of his father and his daughter Kelli, who sadly past away several years earlier. Bud was a devoted Catholic, a loving father and spouse, and a trusted friend to all. He touched many lives and will be greatly missed.</p>
<p><em>— Suzann Mease</em></p>
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