Maj. O. T. Cassity, Sr.

Heading: Maj. O. T. Cassity, Sr. (Veteran) Dateline: Greer Major Oscar Thompson Cassity, Sr., US Air Force Retired, 82, of 380 Air Park Drive died May 11, 2006 at his home. Maj. Cassity was born January 6, 1924 in Decatur, Georgia, to Mae Bell Thompson Cassity and Woodie Grady Cassity. The family moved to Fitzgerald, Georgia, later to Hall County where he graduated Air Line High School. Maj. Cassity had wanted to fly ever since, as toddler, his parents carried him to see Charles Lindbergh land his tiny plane in Atlanta. Soon after Pearl Harbor, he volunteered for the United States Air Force and earned his wings as pilot. He served twenty-one years with distinction in duty stations around the globe: In Europe during World War II, he rescued displaced persons and flew many other missions behind enemy lines; in Korea, during that conflict, he flew the wounded back to hospitals in the States; in Germany, during Berlin Air Lift, he flew 300 round trips into that cramped air space; in Antarctic, he successfully air-dropped supplies for the first wintering-over scientific station at the South Pole; in the Arctic, he rescued scientists from an ice shelf that had broken away. He was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal, two combat stars, The Bronze Star with battle stars, and a number of other awards and recognitions. Major Cassity retired in 1963 with an Award of Commendation for Outstanding Service. He settled in Greer, SC where he built a runway in his backyard and flew his Bonanza past his eightieth birthday. Recently he was inducted in to the Old Antarctic Explorers’ Association. Maj. Cassity is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Woodie G. Cassity, Jr. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Cassity, Greer, SC; son O. T. Cassity, Jr., M.D., Athens, GA; daughters and sons-in-laws, Dr. Nancy C. Dunlap and Dr. Marion C. Dunlap, III, Clemson, SC, Susan C. Kluge and C. Russell Kluge, Marietta, SC; step-daughter, Gina King, Greer, SC; grandson, Oscar Thompson Cassity, III; granddaughters, Margret Maureen Cassity, Mica Morgan Kluge and McKenna Bryn Kluge; step-grandchildren, Dalton Kelly King and Karli Alana King; brother and sister-in-law, Randall and Evon Cassity, Oxford, AL; sister, Margaret C. Culberson, Dalton, GA; sister and brother-in-law, Gloria C. and Joe H. Stargel, Jr., Gainesville, GA; several nieces and nephews, and a host of other loving relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held 4:00 p.m. Saturday at Wood Mortuary, Greer, SC and 2:00 p.m. Monday at Little-Davenport Funeral Home in Gainesville, GA. Burial will be in Alta Vista Cemetery with full military honors. Visitation will be held 2:30-4:00 p.m. Saturday at Wood Mortuary. For the last twenty years Mr. Cassity has adopted and cared for many animals, therefore the family requests that memorials be made to Greenville Humane Society, 328 Furman Hall Road, Greenville, SC 29609. The family is at the home. Online condolences may be made at www.thewoodmortuary.com.

Maj. O. T. Cassity, Sr.

January 6, 1924 - May 11, 2006