Jack Edward Hunter

Jack was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, on 24 Sep 1942 to Ann and Paul Hunter. Jack entered the U.S. Army in April 1960. He attended basic training at Fort Knox, KY and Advanced Infantryman Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

After a tour of duty with the 3rd Battle Group, 6th United States Infantry in Berlin, Germany, Jack moved onto Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. There he met Darlene Nichols of Chickasha, Oklahoma. The two married January 4, 1964.

Jack continued his military career keeping his sights on the next higher position. He completed tours in Korea with the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry, in Germany with the 1-48th Infantry and in Vietnam with the 23rd Infantry. He completed two teaching assignments by serving as instructor at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri and from 1973-1976 he served as Chief Reserve Officers Training Corps instructor at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Oklahoma. He completed tours In Europe and Ft. Bliss, Texas as a first sergeant.

He graduated from the Sergeant Major Academy in 1981 at Ft. Bliss, Texas and transferred to Chicago, Illinois where he worked with the reserve components. He transferred to the 3/63rd Armor in Europe and held the position of battalion CSM. Upon returning stateside he completed a tour with the 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division.

Jack came to Ft Hood, Texas and to the “Hell on Wheels” 2nd Armor Division in 1984. Jack continued to move upward from being a battalion CSM to a brigade CSM until taking over as Division CSM in August of 1986. While serving as the “Hell On Wheels” Division Sergeant Major, he sent elements of the Division from Europe and Fort Hood, TX to Southwest Asia in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Jack was the “Hell On Wheels Division” CSM until the 2nd Armor Division inactivation and his retirement January 1992.

Jack loved being a soldier and loved the 2nd Armor Division. Jack knew the Army’s greatest asset was the soldiers and he strived to make the Non-Commissioned Officer Corps the best it could possibly be. Jack was once described as Ubiquitous, and hard working but most of all a good leader who could get the job done. In accepting his new position as Division CSM he said “I plan to make my presence known all across the division” and that he did.

Jack continued to support the military community after his retirement. He held the position of Vice President for Golf Tournament, Central Texas-Fort Hood Chapter, AUSA. For 18 years he continued to work endlessly in taking care of this Nations greatest assets; the soldiers and their families.

October 1994 Jack worked with Gidden Distribution as Operations Manager. He retired from the company January 2003.

Jack is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Darlene, a daughter Pamela Asmus and her husband Troy of Copperas Cove, three grandchildren, Brandi, Cameron, and Justin, two great-grandchildren, Hunter and Camryn Elizabeth, one brother, John Hunter and his wife Jan of Indiana and several nieces and nephews. Jack was preceded in death by his parents Paul and Ann Hunter and stepfather, Wayne Murden and a brother Jerry Hunter.

Jack loved his family, playing golf, his three dogs, the Oklahoma Sooners, being a soldier and the 2nd Armor Division.

HELL ON WHEELS

Arrangements under the direction of Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home, Killeen, TX.