Loos, Henry A.

 

 

TSgt. Henry A. Loos

US Air Force

1957 – 1977
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Henry A. Loos joined the United States Air Force in 1957, where he earned his GED Regents High School Diploma.  After basic training and tech school he was assigned to Toul-Rosieres, France where he served for three years as a parachute rigger.  His first Commander was Charles Yeager, the “Fastest Man Alive”.  After France he was stationed at Langley Air Force Base where he served for six years. 

During his tour at Langley he worked with NASA on the Mercury Project.  He was involved in developing reentry systems for the capsules.  This effort led to the use of parachutes during re-entry.  He was privileged to know several of the original crew and very honored to be a part of modifying John Glenn’s reentry parachute.  During his time at Langley in 1963 he married his wife Eleanor,   They welcomed their first child Henry, Jr. in 1965.  Henry Jr. was three months old when Henry Sr. was sent to the Philippines to support the Vietnam War.  He served twice in country during that time.  In 1969 while stationed at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina daughter Jeannie was born and three weeks later he received orders for Ton Son Nhut, Vietnam.  After Vietnam, Henry and his family spent time at McDill Air force base in Florida and at Plattsburgh Air Force Base where he retired in 1977.  His civilian work supported by his Air Force Education prepared him to build robotic equipment to install throughout the United States and around the world. 

Eleanor Loos said “My children and I are very proud of his service to his country and the part he played protecting our country.  He is our hero”.