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to remember
Blinkinsop, Paul H., Maj.
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Contact Info
Home Town Clinton
Last Address Colorado Springs area
Date of Passing Oct 12, 2010
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Maj. (Ret) Paul Blinkinsop (82) entered into God's presence October 12, 2010. He was preceded in death by his father LeVern Blinkinsop, mother Mabel J. Carnen of Clinton, Iowa and son Tim E. Blinkinsop of San Raphael, California. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Sonya R. Jenson Blinkinsop, their children Diane (Jeryl) Johnson, Walter (Miriam) Blinkinsop, Jay (Cynthia) Blinkinsop, Paula (Glenn) VanRoy, Tom (Suzanne) Blinkinsop, Sonny (Carolynn) Blinkinsop, 12 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, Blink's brother David (Linda) Blinkinsop and sisters Norda (Charles) Byers, Lois Steele and Joyce Hall.
Blink had a remarkable life. He served 23 years in the U.S. Air Force starting with pilot and navigator training and 36 missions over Korea, for which he was honored with many Air Medals. Stateside assignments included navigation instructor where he taught celestial navigation and wrote a book, Celestial Navigation for the Layman, tankers (KC-97 and KC -135), bombers (B-29) and base administrator. His military career was highlighted by service with the United Nations (UNTSOP) in the Middle East with the peace keeping forces. He was selected from 125,000 officers for this duty. During another assignment he sold life insurance and securities and wrote another book, Why the Rich Get Richer He retired at Beale AFB, California in 1967.
During this incredible life he also owned and operated numerous businesses including auto shops, gas stations, an egg business, one of the world's largest art galleries, a ballroom, and he sold real estate. He served his communities in Cub Scouts, PTA, church, political activities, school boards and coached many sports. He moved around many parts of the country before settling in the Colorado Springs area in 1984 where he and Sonya became local business owners of The Pawn Shops. Blink enjoyed car racing, boating, birds and trees and the beauty of living in the Rockies. Blink liked to say his greatest accomplishment was his family. He was loved and admired as he was a people person who found the good in everyone. He had integrity in all of his endeavors. No one will forget his uncanny sense of humor.
Visitation is Friday, October 15, 2010 5-8pm at Shrine of Remembrance with funeral services Saturday, 2pm at Shrine of Remembrance America the Beautiful Chapel. Entombment will be at Shrine of Remembrance Mausoleum. Memorial contributions may be made in his name to Pikes Peak Hospice.
Published in The Gazette on October 14, 2010
Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Campaign (1965-66)
From Month/Year
June / 1965
To Month/Year
June / 1966
Description This period was from June 29, 1966-March 8, 1967.
On June 29. 1966. the USAF bombed petroleum storage and distribution facilities for the first time in the immediate vicinity of Hanoi and Haiphong, after political leaders authorized limited and specific strikes within the buffer zones for these cities. Gen. William W. Mornyer replaced General Moore as Seventh Air Force Commander on July 1. The United States expanded the Rotuvo Tttunoca campaign as of July 9 to include petroleum targets in the northeast and rail lines and highways between China and Hlanoi. although the buffer zone on the border limited targets. American aircraft also flew armed reconnaissance over North Vietnam.
On July 30, 1966. the USAF bombed targets in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) to counter the build-up of North Vietnamese forces there. By September the U.S. air campaign against North Vietnam had destroyed or damaged two-thirds of the enemy's petroleum storage capacity.
Several thousand trucks and watercraft, hundreds of rail ears and bridges and numerous ammunition and supply storage areas. Beginning on February 14, 1967. USAF aircraft hit additional strategic targets in North Vietnam, knocking out major power plants. and railyard repair facilities. But these results had little effect on the enemy’s ability to carry on the war, because the country possessed only a small industrial base and imported most of its military materiel.
In the face of extensive air attacks. North Vietnam further strengthened its air defenses. By January 1967, the United States had lost 455
aircraft within 2 years. Antiaircraft guns and SAMs accounted for most of the losses, but MiGs continued to challenge U.S. air strikes. On January 2 the Seventh Air Force enticed a large MiG-21 force over North Vietnam into battle against F-4s. The USAF pilots destroyed 7 MiGs within 12 minutes without a loss. Four days later, on January 6. the Seventh destroyed 2 more MiGs. and the North Vietnamese temporarily abandoned aerial combat to regroup and retrain.
In South Vietnam Allied forces continued search and destroy operations. blunting new Viet Cong and North Vietnamese offensives. Between July I4 and August 4, 1966. U.S. Marines and South Vietnamese troops battled North Vietnam Army forces near Quang Tri. 20 miles south of the DMZ. Later. between October I5 and November 26. the Allies engaged in a major battle with Viet Cong and NVA forces northwest of Tay Ninh. near the Cambodian border. 60 miles northwest of Saigon. Enemy resistance was light at first. but on November 4th as ARVN and U.S. troops approached storage areas. the Viet Cong and NVA counterattacked. The Allies responded by airlifting more troops, including elements of the U.S. Army's 1st' 4th, and 25th Infantry Divisions. and the 173rd Airborne Brigade. The USAF provided close air support. and between November 8 and 25. B-52s bombed targets in the area. The Allies drove the enemy from the region temporarily. seizing weapons. ammunition. food. and other supplies that the Communist forces left behind.
The next year. between February and May 1967, U.S. Army units joined ARVN forces to return to Tay Ninh Province. about 50 miles north of Saigon and 15 miles northeast of Tay Ninh. Seventh Air Force C-130s dropped American paratroopers near the Cambodian border to cut off the Viet Cong retreat. The airlifters also flew reinforcements and supplies to the ground troops during this operation. With the help of forward air controllers flying O-1s. Air Force F-100 and F-4 pilots provided close air support. and AC-47 gunship crews illuminated targets and conducted air strikes at night. Again, the enemy withdrew into Canbodia. Leaving behind weapons, supplies. and ammunition.
In the panhandle of Laos, the USAF pounded enemy forces on the l-lo Chi Minh Trail. while in northern Laos U.S. pilots supported Allied forces under attack. By August 1966 Laotian troops fighting Pathet Lao insurgents had advanced. with the aid of U.S. close air support. to Nam Bae. only 45 miles west of the North Vietnamese border and about 55 miles northeast of Luang Prabang, an ancient city on the Mekong River some 130 miles north of Vientiane. The Laotian gains were short lived, however, and by February 2. 1967, the insurgents had regained lost territory and were in a position to attack the airfield at Luang Prabang.
