John (Jack) Edward Slonager, III, 79 of Port Charlotte, Florida passed away on July 4th, 2023. Jack was born on October 12th, 1943, in the small Appalachian town of Sharpsburg, Ohio. Born to the late John E. Slonager Jr, who served for the United States Army in the Pacific and Marion (Pierce) Slonager-Triplet. Jack is preceded in death by his wife, Susan (Sue) Bailes who passed away February 28, 2022. He is survived by brothers Phillip Triplet of Marion, Ohio. Anthony Triplet of Columbus, Ohio. Sisters Rebecca (Triplet) Beis of Columbus, Ohio and Dixie (Triplet) Franklin of Columbus, Ohio.

Jack attended Ohio State University and Mountain State College in Parkersburg, West Virginia where he met his lovely wife of 56 years, Sue. Jack left college to enlist in the United States Army to attend Helicopter Pilot School. Upon graduation and subsequent promotion to Warrant Officer, Jack was assigned to the 498th Med-Evac Helicopter Company in The Republic of South Vietnam in 1966 during the Vietnam War. While there he served with distinction earning The Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Air Medal with 19 Oak Leaf Clusters, one with “V” device for valor in combat, one Overseas Bar, the Combat Medic’s Badge and a good conduct medal. Jack was heroically credited with saving the lives of over 1700 fellow soldiers, evacuating them from the combat zones made up of rice fields and mountain jungles under his Call Sign, Dustoff Six Two.

Upon returning to the United States, Jack became a Tactical Officer (TAC) at Fort Wolters, Texas where he trained Warrant Officer Candidates to become officers, including his brother Anthony. After concluding his military service, Jack briefly lived in Ohio, but he and Sue discovered they liked Florida more than the climate of Ohio and settled into their beloved state in 1980. Jack initially was Comptroller of H. D. Rutledge Construction Company who built several schools in the area, but Jack got his realtor’s license and found his true calling, working for Century 21 and later ReMax.

Jack embraced his love of fishing, hunting, and airboat racing through a career in real estate. Jack combined his call sign with his love of airboat hunting and was affectionately known as “Airgator Six Two” within the airboat community. As a member of the Masons, he became a 32nd degree Mason of both the Scottish and York Rites. Jack was a past Grand Master of his lodge in Punta Gorda but was most proud to be a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and the Florida Chapter of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association. Jack’s hobbies were fishing, airboat racing, hunting, camping, whittling, making dulcimers, black powder rifles and clocks.

Graveside services and interment with military honors by a U.S. Army Honor Guard will be held Friday, 11:00 AM, November 10, 2023, at Restlawn Memorial Gardens, Port Charlotte, Florida.

Friends may visit online at www.robersonfh.com to extend condolences to the family. Arrangements by Roberson Funeral Home & Crematory Port Charlotte Chapel.