John D. Carrington

Lt. Colonel John Davis Carrington (ret.), a resident of Harlingen, Texas, passed away peacefully in the company of his family on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at the age of 93. John was born on April 27, 1930 in Clarksville, Virginia to John Nathaniel Carrington and Grace Frazier Carrington. As an only child, he grew up in Oxford, North Carolina, graduating in 1947 from Oxford High School and then attended Wake Forest College, graduating in 1950 with a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Languages and Political Science.

After a year of coaching and teaching at the College of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, John joined the Air Force to become a pilot which became his life’s passion. John received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1952 and was sent to Korea, flying 30 combat missions in the B-25. In 1957, John married Madge Fort of Durant, Oklahoma after meeting her through friends in Selma, Alabama, starting a fulfilling and loving life together.

In 1961, John was sent to Vietnam for his first tour as part of the reformation of the Air Commandos Squadron, flying numerous missions in the B-26/A-26 to provide counterinsurgency support for the South Vietnamese government and was the first Air Force unit to conduct combat missions in Vietnam. He continued his involvement in counterinsurgency operations through the mid-1960s in Panama, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, and Colombia. In 1968, John was sent to Vietnam for a second tour as an F-4 Phantom Fighter pilot and wing maintenance control officer, flying over 200 combat missions. John continued his overseas duty in 1970 as the Deputy Chief of Mission for the Air Force Military Advisory Group in Santiago, Chile, which he considered his most enjoyable assignment.

During his Air Force career, John was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Force Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with 1 Bronze Star, as well as the Small Arms Expert Marksman Ribbon.

John retired in 1975 after 24 years of service to Durant, Oklahoma, the hometown of Madge. His second career included work in real estate, insurance, and airport operations, but he continued his passion with aviation as a flight instructor, serving as a mentor for numerous pilots who have furthered their careers in commercial aviation. John was also an FAA Designated Flight Examiner, conducting flight tests for individuals to determine their suitability to be pilots. In his later years, John retired a second time to south Texas to enjoy a slower paced life along the Rio Grande border.

John was preceded in death by his parents, John Nathaniel Carrington and Grace Frazier Carrington of Oxford, North Carolina and his son, William Kirkland “Kirk” Carrington of Durant, Oklahoma. John is survived by his wife of 65 years, Madge Fort Carrington of Harlingen, Texas, son, John (Johanna) N Carrington II of Carmichael, California, grandsons, John (Lauren) N Carrington III of Greenville, South Carolina, Thomas (Bea) R Carrington of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Samuel W Carrington of Carmichael, California. John was devoted to his family, lived his life to the fullest, and will be missed by his wife, family, and friends.

A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, June 7, 2023 at the Elmwood Cemetery in Oxford, NC at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the Air Force Aid Society.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Trinity Funeral Homes in Harlingen, Texas, www.trinityfuneralhomes.com and Gentry-Newell & Vaughan Funeral Home in Oxford, North Carolina, www.gnvfuneralhome.com.