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This Day in History – June 10, 1969 – The X-15 gets a place in history

10 June 1969: The U.S. Air Force donated the first North American Aviation X-15, serial number 56-6670, to the Smithsonian Institution for display at the National Air and Space Museum. The first of three X-15A hypersonic research rocketplanes built by North American for the Air Force and the National Advisory Committee (NACA, the predecessor of NASA), 56-6670 made the first glide flight and

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Giroir, Donald J.

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  • Giroir, Donald J.

Donald J. Giroir

Preferred Name: Don
Date of Birth: August 8, 1931
Highest Military Grade: Select
Headed West Date: August 30, 2015
Biography
Pilot Information
Headed West

“Donald was a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force. He was a fighter pilot, Vietnam veteran, and the recipient of many awards including the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, and Air Medal with Seven Clusters.

A diehard LSU fan, Don had a career as a realtor for 20 years. After retiring, he spent these last 16 years tirelessly volunteering in the ER at Saint Rose de Lima Hospital, and playing golf.” (1)

 

Source: (1) https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/las-vegas-nv/donald-giroir-6575823

Units Assigned

  • 1951-1960 57th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan (F-100)
  • 1960-1964 356th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Myrtle Beach, SC (F-100)

Awards & Decorations

Flight Info

F-100

Military & Civilian Education

Military Education:

  • 1969 Fighter Weapons  School

Donald J. Giroir, LtCol USAF, Ret., “Headed West” on August 30, 2015.

Donald J. Giroir, 84, of Henderson passed away suddenly but peacefully from a heart attack on August 30, 2015. He was born on August 8, 1931, to the late Sidney and Marie Giroir.

Donald was a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force. He was a fighter pilot, Vietnam veteran, and the recipient of many awards including the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, and Air Medal with Seven Clusters.

A diehard LSU fan, Don had a career as a realtor for 20 years. After retiring, he spent these last 16 years tirelessly volunteering in the ER at Saint Rose de Lima Hospital, and playing golf. He was preceded in passing by his first wife, Donna Giroir, and brother-in-law, Stanley Labot.

Donald is survived by his wife of 27 years, Jeanette “Jan” Giroir, children Deb, Diane, Steve, Darcie, LeeAnne, and David, and grandchildren Ryan, Lauren, Michael S, Katie, Cristina, Alicia, Michael A, Thomas, Sarah, Catherine, Matthew, and Alyson. Visitation (viewing) will be from 3-7 p.m. Friday, September 4 at Palm Eastern Mortuary at 7600 S. Eastern Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89123.

A funeral Mass [was] held [on] September 5 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Henderson, NV. Burial with full military honors [followed] at the Palm Valley View Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Wounded Warriors Project in Don’s honor.

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