Major Gerald Bracken
Branch – US Air Force
MRC – Darl Easton
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Mission Summary |
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| Classification | Retired Military | |
| Military Branch or First Responder | United States Air Force | |
| Military Service | Enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1951 • 1953: Honorably discharged and continued college. Joined the Missouri Air National Guard in St Joseph, Missouri and attended B-26 navigator training. • 1954: Promoted to lieutenant and attended USAF pilot training. • 1958-1961: Served a tour in France flying F-84 aircraft. • 1962: Was called up to active duty for the Cuban missile crisis and invited to become a regular Air Force officer. • 1963: Attended Army Airborne school in Ft. Bragg, NC. • 1964-1967: Served two tours as an advisor to the South Vietnamese Air Force flying A1-E Sky-Raider and A-37 Dragonfly aircraft on more than 400 combat missions. • 1965: Featured in a photo article entitled “View From the Cockpit” in the May 7 issue of Life Magazine. • 1971: Served a 4-year tour in England in a combat ready unit pulling NATO alerts at Upper Hayford, England flying F-111’s equipped with nuclear weapons. • 1976: Retired at Luke AFB, AZ as a Major and Command Pilot in the F-111 Fighter Bomber |
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| Campaigns | Vietnam War (1962 – 1975) | |
| Mission Segments | Funeral Service, Procession and Interment | |
| Obituary | Link to Obituary | |
| Photo Permission | Yes | |
| MRC | Darl Easton
(817) 296-5123 |
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| Ride Captain 2 | Wayne ‘T-Bone’ Bewley
(817) 925-4863 |
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Part 1 |
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| Segment | Memorial Service and Procession | |
| Mission Date | Monday 2024-07-15 | |
| Staging Time | 0930 | |
| Briefing Time | 0945 | |
| In Position/KSU Time | 1000 | |
| Starting Time | 1030 | |
| Staging Point | Wade Funeral Home
4140 West Pioneer Parkway Arlington, TX 76013 |
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| Map Link | ||
| Details | The PGR will stage at the funeral home, brief, set the flag line, and stand tall and silent as family and friends arrive for the Memorial Service. After the Memorial Service begins, the flag line will be secured, and riders debriefed. The procession safety briefing for the riders staying for the procession. | |
| Procession | Escort Provided | |
| Support | Ed Paulson | |
Part 2 |
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| Segment | Interment Service | |
| Mission Date | Monday 2024-07-15 | |
| Staging Time | 1215 | |
| Briefing Time | 1230 | |
| In Position/KSU Time | 1245 | |
| Starting Time | 1300 | |
| Staging Point | Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery
2000 Mountain Creek Parkway Dallas, TX 75211 |
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| Map Link | Map to Staging – Part 2 | |
| Details | PGR will stage at the DFWNC Visitor’s Center for the mission briefing. Honor bikes will be selected if needed. All other riders will proceed to the committal shelter to set up flags and stand tall and silent as family and friends arrive for the service. At the completion of the service the flag line will be secured and riders debriefed and dismissed. | |
| Support | Flags only; please bring your own water. | |
*** SAFETY NOTICE ***
Before volunteering and/or attending any North Texas Patriot Guard Riders missions we encourage you to review all safety information below.
Included are some potential safety concerns to be aware of, however this does not include the full scope of all potential hazards.
Anyone attending any North Texas Patriot Guard Riders mission understands that they do so at their own risk.
High Temperatures
It’s every RIDER’S PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY to hydrate prior to attending a mission.
Begin drinking water the night before. Drink water when you wake up and continue drinking water all day to ensure your body stays hydrated. It should be noted that excessive use of alcohol, coffee, tea, or sodas act as diuretics and tend to dehydrate rather than hydrate. The use of Powerade or Gatorade or any of the small packets of powder designed to help replace the electrolytes lost from perspiration is important. The use of cooling towels is important also as they tend to help keep your body temperature down.
If at any time you feel the need, let someone know that you are stepping away from the Flag Line, and find a cool spot to get out of the heat. Don’t wait until your body collapses. It is much easier to take a seat and get a cold towel rather than to call EMS for heat stroke. The family will understand. If this does occur, please have your emergency card on you so that we can notify a family member. Hope-fully the break will be all you need. Secondly, if you are riding a bike, please be sure to hydrate again before making the ride home. Take another 10-15 minutes to cool down then start the ride. Ideally, stop at an air-conditioned restaurant for something to eat.
Funeral Processions/Escorts
EVERY RIDER IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE for their own safety at all times while riding in a funeral procession.
At NO TIME are any riders authorized to block any intersection or otherwise block or impede traffic laws in any way. Only Law Enforcement officials are authorized to block and/or impeded the lawful flow of traffic.
If you choose to fly a flag on your bike you are SOLELY RESPONSIBLE for ensuring it is secured and not a danger to any other rider or traffic.