Col. Jacob P. Sartz, Jr.

Col. Jacob P. Sartz, Jr .WWII, Korea, veteran

Col. Jacob P. Sartz, Jr., 89 of Bethlehem, died Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at Moravian Village in Bethlehem. He was born November 1, 1917, in Shanghai, China, son of the late Jacob P. and Alice Messner Sartz.

Raised in Bernville, PA outside of Reading, Mr. Sartz went on to attend Penn State?s Mt. Alto Forestry School. After graduating, he enlisted in the US Army Air Corp in 1939. In his long and distinguished career, he served as a member of the original American Volunteer Group AVG, more popularly known as the Flying Tigers. As an Air Commando, he flew gliders into Burma as part of the allied effort to recapture it. During his service flying ?The Hump? between India and China, he was awarded the Silver Star for heroism. Post-WWII assignments included occupation duty in Germany flying the Berlin Airlift, service in Korea and various staff and instructing posts. In 1960, Col. Sartz joined Lehigh?s faculty as Professor of Military Science. After retiring from the Air Force, he began a long period of civic service with such distinguished local organizations as the Bethlehem Rotary Club and the American Heart Association.

He will be lovingly remembered by his son, Jacob Sartz, III of Georgetown, MA; daughter, Susan Beach of Vancouver, WA; three grandchildren, Kenneth Beach, Jacob Sartz, IV and Donna Ritchie and two great-grandchildren, Zoe and Robert Ritchie.

Services: A Memorial Service will be held, Friday November 16, 2007 at 10 a.m. at Connell Funeral Home, Inc., 245 East Broad St. Bethlehem, PA; followed by interment at

1:30 p.m. at Fort Indiantown Gap Cemetery in Annville, PA.

Memorial Contributions: In lieu of flowers mourners are encouraged to send donations to the Rotary Club of Bethlehem Scholarship Fund 1971 Eaton Ave. Bethlehem, PA 18018-2110 or the American Heart Association 212 East Broad St. Bethlehem, PA 18018.