Col. Harold M. Chadick, U.S. Army Sr.

Survived by his wife, Margie Virginia Chadick, sons William Gary Chadick and his wife Dianna, Timothy Earl Chadick and his wife Jeanie, and Harold M. Chadick, Jr., and his wife Dawn; grandsons Joshua Rowan Chadick, Russell Allen Chadick, Zachary Chadick, and Heath Wilks; granddaughters Haley (Chadick) Sherman, Rachel (Chadick) Fedorczuk, Daisy Chadick, and Brooke Chadick; great grandson Hayden Carter Sherman, and great granddaughter Allie Catherine Chadick.
Colonel Chadick was a longtime resident of Biloxi, where he settled in 1967 after completing his military career. His commitment to the Gulf Coast was demonstrated by rebuilding his home twice, after Hurricane Camille and Hurricane Katrina.
He was raised in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he was a track star at Byrd High School in Shreveport, specializing in the 200 yard dash. He graduated from Byrd High School in 1941.
His military career in the U.S. Army began in 1942, with service during World War ll. He enlisted as a Private and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant. He saw action in three campaigns: first in New Guinea; and then participated in the liberation of the Philippines on Luzon and in the Central Philippines. After World War II ended he mustered out of the Army and returned to Louisiana, where he entered Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. He graduated from Louisiana State University in 1948, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration; and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in the Army Reserve.
At the onset of the crisis in Korea he was recalled to active service by the U.S. Army, and posted to duty in Germany with the 2nd Armored Division during the occupation period 1951-1954. He remained in the Army thereafter, retiring in 1970, having attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, with a total of 24 years of active duty military service. Some of his other notable assignments during his military career included being an advisor to the Vietnamese Army during the Vietnam War in 1968; serving as an infantry company commander in the 82nd Airborne Division and the 24th Infantry Division; serving as a troop commander in the 1st Cavalry Division; staff officer duty at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Paris, France; and his final duty assignment teaching ROTC as Assistant Professor of Military Science at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. His highest awards included the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, Expert Infantryman Badge, and Senior Parachutist Wings; along with the Good Conduct Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korea Service Medal, WW II American Campaign Medal, WW II Asia-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, and the Cold War Service Medal.
After military retirement in 1970 he continued public service with the State of Mississippi in the State Employment Service. He assisted countless people with finding employment. He served as a State of Mississippi employment counselor for 15 years, eventually rising to be the deputy manager of the Biloxi office, until his second retirement in 1984. Even after his second retirement he continued to serve the community as a Red Cross worker at the Keesler Air Force Base Hospital where he did volunteer work for another15 years.
In his youth his nickname was Hallie, and he fashioned a reputation as the ""Wolf of Wall,"" the street he lived on Shreveport. But in his maturity everyone knew him as Chad. His favorite pastimes included fishing, boating, golf, and passionately following the football fortunes of Louisiana State University. He met the love of his life, Margie Virginia Russell, a native of Brookhaven, Mississippi, who was working as a shoe saleslady in Baton Rouge. They were married on June 1, 1947. He was a devout worshipper in the Methodist Church, with membership in the First United Methodist Church of Biloxi, the United Methodist Church of Mooringsport, LA, and the Keesler Air Force Base Protestant Chapel. He taught both adult and youth Sunday school classes and was a lifelong student of the Bible.
He is preceded in death by his father William R. Chadick, Sr., his mother Lillian (Culpepper) Chadick, and his brother, William R. Chadick, Jr.