Gary L. Salisbury

Major Gary L. Salisbury, U.S. Army, Retired, "Rabbitman", 79, passed away Monday, April 16, 2018.Funeral Service:  10 a.m. Friday, April 20, 2018 in White's Mineral Wells Chapel, 101 N. E. 4th Ave., Mineral Wells,  76067.  Interment:  Woodland Park Cemetery, Mineral Wells.  Visitation:  6 - 8 p.m. Thursday at White's Funeral Home.Donations may be made in Gary's memory to the National Vietnam War Museum in Mineral Wells, P. O. Box 1779, Weatherford, Texas  76086.Gary was born January 20, 1939 in Coon Rapids, Iowa to Arthur and Anabell Salisbury.  He joined the Military in November 1956.  Gary was stationed in Fort Devens, Mass., Fort Belvoir, Va., Hawaii, and Fort Wolters, Tex.  He met and married Christa Sattler in Germany, and then returned to Fort Wolters and Fort Rucker, Ala., where he learned to fly a Huey Helicopter.  Gary served two tours of duty in Vietnam.  During his service he was an Experimental Test Pilot and a Tactical Intelligence Officer.  Gary earned many medals and badges during his service including:  Good Conduct Medal, 2nd award; Army Aviation Badge; National Defense Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; Air Medal, 1-16th Oak Leaf Clusters; Army Commendation Medal, 1 Oak Leaf Cluster; Army Commendation Medal with V Device; 4 overseas bars; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 Device; Bronze Star Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster; Republic of Vietnam Air Service Medal, Honor Class; Meritorious Unit Citation with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster; Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, 1 Oak Leaf Cluster; Valorous Unit Award, 1 Oak Leaf Cluster; Senior Army Aviator Badge; Armed Forces Reserve Medal; and Meritorious Service Medal. He retired from the Army December 1, 1976 and moved back to Mineral Wells.Gary is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Jean Wilson; and grandson, Carson Horton.He is survived by his wife, Christa; children, Garry Salisbury and wife, Chris, Steven Salisbury and wife, Paula, Heide Horton and husband, James, and Mike Salisbury; grandchildren, Dillon Salisbury and wife, Tyra, Kayla Salisbury, Kara Salisbury, Meredith Horton, Bridget Horton, and Jeff Manie; great-grandchildren, Hudson Salisbury, Ellie Salisbury, and Shaylee Salisbury; sister, Betty Warner; and many other extended family members and friends.