Max Henry Light
August 9, 1921 ~ March 10, 2021
Lieutenant Colonel Max Henry Light, U.S. Air Force (Retired), August 9, 1921 – March 10, 2021
Max Henry Light, 99, died recently of natural causes. He lived a hero’s life as a member of the Greatest Generation. He will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery with military honors on August 27, 2021, after an 11:00 a.m. memorial service at Fort Meyer Old Post Chapel, 204 Lee Avenue, Fort Meyer, Virginia 22211.
Lt. Col. Light is pre-deceased by his wife of 64 years, Irene Louise MacDougall of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She was the love of his life. He is survived by his daughter, Norene Mary Light Hopp, of Arlington, Virginia, and her son, Travis William Hopp of Santa Monica, California; his son Gregory Hamilton Light, and wife, Karen Light, of Broad Run, Virginia; and daughter, Valerie Louise Light, and her husband, Ricardo Juan Núñez, of Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, and their children, Alexandra Louise Núñez and Cristián Javier Núñez.
Lt. Col. Light grew up in Martinsburg, West Virginia, and after graduating high school in 1939, served as a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Eager to fly, he and a buddy hitchhiked to Canada to join the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), prior to Pearl Harbor. There he took pre-flight military training until December 7, 1941, when he and numerous other Americans were released to join the United States Army Air Corps.
Lt. Col. Light had a distinguished military career, recording 6,450 flight hours, along with his early qualification as a Master Navigator. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for heroism and bravery in some 30 combat missions against the Japanese, serving in the Solomon Islands of the Southwest Pacific during World War II. His primary duty was flying out of Henderson Field on the principal Island of Guadalcanal, landing in a B-24 Liberator there in early January 1943. His other military honors included Five Air Medals for Gallantry in Aerial Flight; the Defense Superior Service Medal; the Joint Services Commendation Medal; the Air Force Commendation Medal; and the Joint Services Expeditionary Medal.
In addition to 24-years in the U.S. Air Force, Lt. Col. Light served as a Communications Specialist, for the Naval Telecommunications Command, Washington, District of Columbia, for 22 years, where he excelled as Chief, Joint Allied Plans Branch.
Lt. Col. Light was a long-time resident of Springfield, Virginia. He was an avid reader, and enjoyed spending Summers at his beach house in Ocean City, Maryland, especially with his lovely wife, and grandchildren, Travis, Alex and Cristián. He was an accomplished shooter, and liked to shoot both Trap and Skeet. He was a dedicated hunter, and often took hunting trips out West with his son Greg.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to The Arlington-Fairfax Chapter Inc. of the Izaak Walton League of America, P.O. Box 366, Centreville, VA 20122-0366 (www.arlingtonfairfax-iwla.org). The Izaak Walton League’s mission is to conserve, restore, and promote the sustainable use and enjoyment of our natural resources. Lt. Col. Light was an active member of the League for many years.
Max Henry Light, 99, died recently of natural causes. He lived a hero’s life as a member of the Greatest Generation. He will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery with military honors on August 27, 2021, after an 11:00 a.m. memorial service at Fort Meyer Old Post Chapel, 204 Lee Avenue, Fort Meyer, Virginia 22211.
Lt. Col. Light is pre-deceased by his wife of 64 years, Irene Louise MacDougall of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She was the love of his life. He is survived by his daughter, Norene Mary Light Hopp, of Arlington, Virginia, and her son, Travis William Hopp of Santa Monica, California; his son Gregory Hamilton Light, and wife, Karen Light, of Broad Run, Virginia; and daughter, Valerie Louise Light, and her husband, Ricardo Juan Núñez, of Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, and their children, Alexandra Louise Núñez and Cristián Javier Núñez.
Lt. Col. Light grew up in Martinsburg, West Virginia, and after graduating high school in 1939, served as a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Eager to fly, he and a buddy hitchhiked to Canada to join the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), prior to Pearl Harbor. There he took pre-flight military training until December 7, 1941, when he and numerous other Americans were released to join the United States Army Air Corps.
Lt. Col. Light had a distinguished military career, recording 6,450 flight hours, along with his early qualification as a Master Navigator. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for heroism and bravery in some 30 combat missions against the Japanese, serving in the Solomon Islands of the Southwest Pacific during World War II. His primary duty was flying out of Henderson Field on the principal Island of Guadalcanal, landing in a B-24 Liberator there in early January 1943. His other military honors included Five Air Medals for Gallantry in Aerial Flight; the Defense Superior Service Medal; the Joint Services Commendation Medal; the Air Force Commendation Medal; and the Joint Services Expeditionary Medal.
In addition to 24-years in the U.S. Air Force, Lt. Col. Light served as a Communications Specialist, for the Naval Telecommunications Command, Washington, District of Columbia, for 22 years, where he excelled as Chief, Joint Allied Plans Branch.
Lt. Col. Light was a long-time resident of Springfield, Virginia. He was an avid reader, and enjoyed spending Summers at his beach house in Ocean City, Maryland, especially with his lovely wife, and grandchildren, Travis, Alex and Cristián. He was an accomplished shooter, and liked to shoot both Trap and Skeet. He was a dedicated hunter, and often took hunting trips out West with his son Greg.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to The Arlington-Fairfax Chapter Inc. of the Izaak Walton League of America, P.O. Box 366, Centreville, VA 20122-0366 (www.arlingtonfairfax-iwla.org). The Izaak Walton League’s mission is to conserve, restore, and promote the sustainable use and enjoyment of our natural resources. Lt. Col. Light was an active member of the League for many years.
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The Owners and Staff at the Money and King Funeral Home, wish to express our sincere sympathy to you. It is our hope that we may be able to make a difficult time more bearable. Please feel free to call us anytime as we are always available to you. Bob Gallagher Funeral Director
Rest in Peace, Dad. You Shall Never Be Forgotten. You Are the Best Dad Ever. Your Son, Gregory Hamilton Light
As a fellow Air Force veteran, with over two years of experience in Vietnam, I salute Max and offer my sincere condolences to everyone in his family.
Maxwell, You Never Cease to Amaze Me with Your Youthful Attitude & Sense of Adventure. You are Dearly Missed. Love Always, Karen.