Marshall Vass

Youngsville - Graveside services will be at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, April 9, 2013, at Holy Family Cemetery, 2807 Curtis Lane in New Iberia, for Lt. Colonel Marshall B. Vass, US Army, Retired, 88, who died on Friday, April 5, 2013. A gathering of family and friends will be Tuesday from 11:00 AM until 1:30 PM at Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace Blvd, in New Iberia. ; ; Col. Vass enlisted in the U.S. Army in October 1942, and served in Europe for two years. After he was discharged in 1945, he attended LSU where, in 1948, he accepted a commission as 2nd Lt, Infanty, having completed ROTC training. His service during the next 25 years included assignments with the 82nd Airborne Division, 3rd Infantry Division, 1st Infantry Division, 24th Infantry Division, XVIII Airborne Corps and General Staff assignments including Department of the Army and Joint Chiefs of Staff. He commanded platoons, a company and a battalion. His military schooling included Advanced Branch Officers Course, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Army Pilot Training, and Army Helicopter Pilot Training. His decorations are the Combat Infantry Badge, Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, Air Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Senior Pilot Wings, plus various service medals with eight battle stars. He served on occupation duty in both Germany and Japan. He served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. He retired from the Army in September 1973 as a Regular Army Lieutenant Colonel. Following Army retirement, Mr. Vass was employed by Pelican Aviation Corp. as a charter pilot, and Blocker Drilling Corp. as a corporate pilot. He retired from these activities in 1990. Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Juanita M. Vass of Youngsville; daughter, Ann Vass of Lafayette; and two grandchildren, Shelli Signorelli, and Destin Richard. He was preceded in death by his parents, Douglas and Corine Giffin Vass; brothers, Penrose Vass, and Giffin 'Buddy' Vass. Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace Blvd., New Iberia, LA 70560, 337.365.3331, is in charge of arrangements.