Chief Warrant Officer Three John A. Quinlan died Feb. 18, 2007, in southeastern Afghanistan when his MH-47E Chinook Helicopter crashed while conducting operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
He was born on Feb. 26, 1970, in Morristown, N. J.
Quinlan originally volunteered for service in the U.S. Marine Corps as an Avionics Tech in October 1988. His first duty station was Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, NC. In 1992, Quinlan then served at MCAS El Toro, Calif., where he completed eight years of enlisted service. He was accepted into and graduated from the U.S. Army Warrant Officer program in 1997 at Fort Rucker, Ala. In 1998, he attended the Aviation Warrant Officer Basic Course and Initial Entry Rotary Wing training.
After completing his CH-47D aircraft qualifications at Fort Rucker, he was assigned as a CH-47D pilot at Camp Humphreys, Korea, with B Company, 2nd Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment. Returning stateside in 2000, he was assigned to B Company, 2nd Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, Ga., where he was a CH-47 pilot and instructor pilot. Quinlan applied and successfully assessed to serve in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) in 2003. He was assigned to B Company, 2nd Battalion, 160th SOAR(A) at Fort Campbell, Ky., where he served as a MH-47E Chinook Helicopter pilot. Quinlan previously deployed five times in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
His schools include the C-130 Loadmaster School, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, CH-47 Instructor Pilot Course, Army Maintenance Management Course, Electronic Warfare Officer Course, Special Operations Training Course and the Warrant Officer Advanced Course.
Quinlan’s awards and decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal for Valor, three Air Medals, four Army Commendation Medals, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, (Saudi Arabia) Kuwait Liberation Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Citation, Combat Action Badge and Senior Aviation Badge. He was posthumously awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.
He is survived by his wife, Julie, and three daughters – Keely, Madeline and Erin. His parents, Robert and Kate Quinlan, and sister, Susan, also survives him.
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