Jack David Jewell Lt. Col. USMC (Retired)
April 26, 1943 ~ December 25, 2022
Lieutenant Colonel Jack David Jewell, USMC (Ret.) died from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis surrounded by his family at his home in McLean, VA on December 25, 2022. He was 79 years old.
Jack was born April 26, 1943, in San Antonio, TX to Dr. and Mrs. Harold Jewell. He grew up on a farm in Sulphur, OK, the youngest of three children. His father was a veterinarian, and, from a very young age, Jack assisted him with birthing calves and tending to livestock and other animals. Jack collected the eggs that their chickens produced (selling them in town for 15 cents/dozen) and milked the cows as well. A favorite pastime was running around with his brother, and that environment engendered his lifelong love of fishing, hunting and getting his hands dirty. He was a leftie shooter and lamented having to retire his guns when his pacemaker was put in. Among his many accomplishments, Jack was the All District and All Conference quarterback for the Sulphur High School Bulldogs and graduated as valedictorian in 1961 – his family would tease him that that was made possible only because he studied with his very intelligent girlfriend, Annette. Jack regularly talked to his grade school friends throughout his entire life.
The first time Jack sat in a plane was to fly to Washington, D.C. to attend the U.S. Naval Academy. He worked hard during his time there, making many steadfast and true friends. He served as the football spotter for Navy games, assisting the newscasters who called the games, and admitted that he was especially nervous before the Army-Navy match ups. Jack graduated from the Naval Academy in June of 1966.
Jack served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 20 years, only retiring so that his children would not have to move multiple times during high school. During his decorated career, Jack served two tours in Vietnam, including as an Infantry Officer and a helicopter pilot. In between his tours, he stopped off in Sulphur to marry his high school sweetheart, Annette Milton. He knew she would be the best mother imaginable and had the grit and fortitude to be married to a Marine Corps Officer and a pilot, no less.
Following Vietnam, Jack trained to fly the A-4 Skyhawk, with a successful record of aircraft carrier take offs and landings as well as flying at Top Gun as an adversary pilot. He also served as a Company Officer at the Naval Academy for three years, where he mentored midshipmen and cheered on his beloved Navy football team. He finished his military career in El Toro, CA as the Commanding Officer of VMA-214 and was rightfully proud of the fact that, during his command, the squadron was accident free.
Following the Marine Corps, Jack joined McDonnell Douglas, which became Boeing, and traveled the world to meet with customers, forming lifelong friendships with people in Israel, Korea, Singapore and Italy, among other places. After retirement, Jack became a University of California Master Gardener to pursue his love of gardening.
Jack and Annette left the perennial sunshine of California in 2014 and moved back to the East Coast, taking up residence in McLean. Since then, they have enjoyed watching countless concerts, theatrical performances and sporting events of their grandchildren, rising to the level of “Superfans” more than once. Jack was an avid reader and sports enthusiast, particularly of the Dallas Cowboys. You could learn something from every conversation with him and he had a wonderful sense of humor, so laughter was always included.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Annette Milton Jewell; his daughter Jennifer Jewell Black (Kevin); his son Jonathan David Jewell (Frank); and grandchildren Kyle, Katherine, Joseph, Winslow and Saxony.
A Memorial Service will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church at 1205 Dolley Madison Blvd., McLean, VA on January 7, 2023, at 2:00 pm, with a reception to follow. The Memorial Service will be available via livestream at: https://www.youtube.com/@UMTrinity/streams
Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery on a future date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the following:
Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation: www fundraise.givesmart.com/vf/PFFTribute/JackJewell
U.S. Naval Academy Foundation:
www.usna.com/give
Jack was born April 26, 1943, in San Antonio, TX to Dr. and Mrs. Harold Jewell. He grew up on a farm in Sulphur, OK, the youngest of three children. His father was a veterinarian, and, from a very young age, Jack assisted him with birthing calves and tending to livestock and other animals. Jack collected the eggs that their chickens produced (selling them in town for 15 cents/dozen) and milked the cows as well. A favorite pastime was running around with his brother, and that environment engendered his lifelong love of fishing, hunting and getting his hands dirty. He was a leftie shooter and lamented having to retire his guns when his pacemaker was put in. Among his many accomplishments, Jack was the All District and All Conference quarterback for the Sulphur High School Bulldogs and graduated as valedictorian in 1961 – his family would tease him that that was made possible only because he studied with his very intelligent girlfriend, Annette. Jack regularly talked to his grade school friends throughout his entire life.
The first time Jack sat in a plane was to fly to Washington, D.C. to attend the U.S. Naval Academy. He worked hard during his time there, making many steadfast and true friends. He served as the football spotter for Navy games, assisting the newscasters who called the games, and admitted that he was especially nervous before the Army-Navy match ups. Jack graduated from the Naval Academy in June of 1966.
Jack served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 20 years, only retiring so that his children would not have to move multiple times during high school. During his decorated career, Jack served two tours in Vietnam, including as an Infantry Officer and a helicopter pilot. In between his tours, he stopped off in Sulphur to marry his high school sweetheart, Annette Milton. He knew she would be the best mother imaginable and had the grit and fortitude to be married to a Marine Corps Officer and a pilot, no less.
Following Vietnam, Jack trained to fly the A-4 Skyhawk, with a successful record of aircraft carrier take offs and landings as well as flying at Top Gun as an adversary pilot. He also served as a Company Officer at the Naval Academy for three years, where he mentored midshipmen and cheered on his beloved Navy football team. He finished his military career in El Toro, CA as the Commanding Officer of VMA-214 and was rightfully proud of the fact that, during his command, the squadron was accident free.
Following the Marine Corps, Jack joined McDonnell Douglas, which became Boeing, and traveled the world to meet with customers, forming lifelong friendships with people in Israel, Korea, Singapore and Italy, among other places. After retirement, Jack became a University of California Master Gardener to pursue his love of gardening.
Jack and Annette left the perennial sunshine of California in 2014 and moved back to the East Coast, taking up residence in McLean. Since then, they have enjoyed watching countless concerts, theatrical performances and sporting events of their grandchildren, rising to the level of “Superfans” more than once. Jack was an avid reader and sports enthusiast, particularly of the Dallas Cowboys. You could learn something from every conversation with him and he had a wonderful sense of humor, so laughter was always included.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Annette Milton Jewell; his daughter Jennifer Jewell Black (Kevin); his son Jonathan David Jewell (Frank); and grandchildren Kyle, Katherine, Joseph, Winslow and Saxony.
A Memorial Service will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church at 1205 Dolley Madison Blvd., McLean, VA on January 7, 2023, at 2:00 pm, with a reception to follow. The Memorial Service will be available via livestream at: https://www.youtube.com/@UMTrinity/streams
Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery on a future date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the following:
Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation: www fundraise.givesmart.com/vf/PFFTribute/JackJewell
U.S. Naval Academy Foundation:
www.usna.com/give
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Such a genuinely nice guy. Enjoyed our friendship when our girls were growing up together.
Jeff Herdman
I will be eternally grateful to Jack for summoning me from beneath the jeeps and trucks of Support Group 37 in December of 1983 to be his executive officer in VMA-214. He was a superb Marine officer and friend. May he rest in peace.
–Imua
My friend Jack was born one day after me on April 26 1943. Jack has been my friend for 75 years. We stared school at Cameron school. We played football together all through school. Jack was an outstanding quarterback and was very smart. He could evaluate the defense and call the right play every time. Over those years we hunted squirrel, ducks and quail together. Jack was a good shot with a shotgun. Jack and I worked together at Bahnner funeral home and made emergency ambulance calls which was an experience for sure. When Jack entered The Navy Academy and had a break he would come to Sulphur and stay at my house. Our house was his house. My dad loved Jack like his own. On June 3, 1972 Jack was my best man at my wedding and my family appreciated that so much. Jack and I stayed in contact on a regular basis the last few years and I was so saddened by his health issues. I want his family to know how much I am praying for you all. It was a honor to to have Jack as a friend. Thank you Jack for your service to our country. You will be missed. I love you all.
Charlotte Hill Sends her love and prayers for you all. She really appreciated his friendship and visits. Thanks Jack for your service to our country.
In Memory of Jack
AVRAHAM CASPI-Israel
How can you sum up twenty years of wonderful friendship with a friend you admire and suddenly everything is interrupted.
We corresponded for many years and a bond of true friendship was formed between us and discovered a lot in common.
We started to correspond and got closer to each other.
Recently, close to his death, Jack addressed his condition and since he told me openly about his condition, my heart broke and I was very sad.
I hoped he would last a little longer, I even promised him that in the near future I would plan a visit to his house.
But to our great concern and great sorrow we lost a great and wonderful man and an excellent friend.
Here are some memorable quotes from Jack and his attitude towards his situation and his appreciation for his wonderful family:
“Avraham, thank you for asking about my health and how I am doing. I want to be candid with you as a dear friend.
My oxygen level goes down very quickly. I can certainly feel the progression of my lungs getting worse. I am on oxygen 24/7, but not like I was in the A-4, which was more fun, than a wheel chair
I make the most of every day and try to keep going and I have a wonderful support team with Annette and Jennifer, and Jonathan, my kids.
So, I am fine just slowed down somewhat”
May he rest in Peace.
For the first time I met with Jack at the Israel Aviation Industry Plant in 2003 as part of a large engineering project of converting 15 B757 aircraft from passenger configuration to cargo configuration for Boeing/DHL
Jack was a senior manager of the Boeing company who was also responsible for the B757 conversion project and I was the project manager on behalf of the Israel Aviation Industry.
A relationship of mutual trust was created between Jack and me and I reported to him in the most open way even when we made mistakes and failed to meet the schedule. Jack greatly appreciated our fairness and openness during the project and avoided suing us with fines for delays in the project and the like.
At the end of the project, we parted ways and much later we renewed our connections through email correspondence that continued over the years until almost the day of Jack’s death.
We corresponded and touched on all the current issues of the world and, of course, a lot about aviation and airplanes. Jack was up-to-date and very knowledgeable about everything that was going on in the turbulent Middle East region. He knew the leaders of Israel and the conflicted political structure very well
He often surprised me with issues and events in Israel that I had not yet heard about. There is no doubt that Jack was an avid reader and consumer of media and had interesting opinions. We exchanged opinions and information about events in Ukraine and Russia and also quite a bit about the internal politics in the US and his opinion of the US presidents
Of course, we also often talked about sports, which he especially loved. He proudly told me about his athlete grandchildren.
He kept me updated and I kept him updated and in our last phone conversation days before Christmas, with his hoarse voice still echoing in my head, he insisted on telling me that he enjoyed reading my emails and the content of the things I wrote in the emails.
Jack was for me the epitome of the good American – a great patriot, a fighter who served as a fighter pilot in the Marine Corps he also fought as a ground force officer, a decent and honest person, an interesting conversationalist and above all a man with principles and a wonderful friend.
Jack, I will miss you my best friend! I’ll always remember you
I was very honored to be your friend.
I salute you !
SEMPER FI
Avraham Caspi
Our thoughts and prayers are with you Annette and Jennifer’s and Jonathan’s families. We always enjoyed our times together in Mission Viejo.
Jack and Avraham Caspi photos
Dear Jewell family,
I received your email with the bitter news about the death of your beloved father and my best friend Jack , whom I loved so much.
My heart is saddened and I am so sorry for your loss.
While writing these words I am crying and in fact from the last letters that Jack wrote to me I realized that his condition is deteriorating.
My wife Tali and I send you all our love and sympathy.
Thinking of you at this sad time and sending our condolences to the entire JEWELL family.
We send a warm hug to Annette, the wonderful wife who stood by Jack’s side and took care of him faithfully.
I will miss my good friend Jack; I will miss our correspondence that we all enjoyed and closeness between us.
I was lucky to talk to him and hear his voice nearby about two weeks ago.
Of blessed memory
With affection to all of you!
Avraham Caspi,
Jack’s friend forever.
All the Cline family sends love and deep felt sympathy to the dear Jewells. We have wonderful memories of our kids growing up together in Mission Viejo, which will remain in our hearts forever.
I’d had no closer friend than Jack. We just seemed to be kindred spirits, two kids from small towns, classmates, and Marines. We would use our childhood names, Jackie and Hughie and talk about our lives, young and old. Phone calls out of the blue to check on each other and time together when we could. We’d spent months together in the same battalion in Vietnam and lived a block apart when we were both stationed at MCAS El Toro. We had the occasion to fly together, me on his wing in his A-4, me in my F-4 flying formation through clouds returning from somewhere. And then, one of the great delights of my life, Jack flew me to my hometown landing on the high school’s football field in his Huey helicopter. We recounted the event many times incredulous that we actually did that. But that was Jack, selfless and gracious with a wonderful sense of humor. When he had the occasion to visit Israel he thought of me, sending the gift of a Bible covered with olive wood the good friend and Christian that he was. I look forward now to seeing him again in Heaven for an eternal friendship.
God Bless Jack, Annette and all his family. It was my honor to fly with him on the AH-1J Cobra Combat Evaluation Team. Jack was the consumate gentleman, superior Marine Aviator, greatest husband and father. We flew in combat together in Vietnam and Laos. Semper Fi, Jack ; and God Bless Annette, Jennifer and Frank.
Colonel and Mrs. Frank G. Wickersham III.
Our paths crossed during both of Jack’s Vietnam tours. Fifth Marines and Marble Mountain. We were “hootch” mates at Marble when Jack came over with the “J” model Cobra Det.
Rest in peace. S/F
Jack was a great man and a great leader! He loved God, Country and Family! He leaves a lasting legacy and will be greatly missed!
Dear Jack, you and Annette welcomed me like another family member when I was an exchange student in Mission Viejo back in 1992. The memories of that time remain with me until today. Jonathan and I developed a great friendship and met many times thereafter in Europe. May you find rest and peace in your eternal journey, Christian Bigata
The first time I met Lt. Jewell, it was late January of 1967, when he joined Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, near Chu Lai, Viet Nam. He was our new Platoon Commander of the 3rd Platoon.
He was different than what we were used to, as a commanding officer. He took an interest in each and everyone of us. Right away we knew he was special. He truly cared about us. We had an officer that we could talk with, so different than what we are used to.
We were important to him and he truly cared about how were doing.
The last time I saw him was in late January of 1968. I was waiting with a few others for a helicopter flight to DaNang, as we were rotating home. He came to tell me goodbye, that we would meet again someday. We never did actually see one another again.
We did stay in touch all of those 50+ years, mostly by mail. The last several years by phone and mail. What a special one he was. Truly interested in how my family was doing, always referring to them by name, as if he knew them. He did known them, from all those letters we wrote back and forth.
He is missed. He was a special person. An exceptional man and an exceptional Marine. He struggled for a long time with his health. He is at peace now. He is missed. Semper Fi Jack. Thank you.