Col. George M. Lind

Col. George M. Lind, 77, of Arkansas City, KS passed away on Monday, July 20, 2020 at his home.  

Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, July 25th at Shelley Family Funeral Home of Arkansas City.  Military graveside honors will follow at Memorial Lawn Cemetery north of Arkansas City.  A visitation will be on Friday from 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 6:00 to 8:00 that evening at the funeral home.   A memorial has been established in his name with the Cowley County Amateur Radio Club, P.O. Box 925, Arkansas City, KS  67005.

George Michael “Mike” was born on July 17, 1943 the son of George Winfield and Marguerite Lillian (Thomas) Lind.   He went to grade school at Martha Washington north of Ark City.  He was a member of the Methodist Boy Scout Troop 328, and graduated from Arkansas High School in 1961. 

He began his military career enlisting on July 18th, 1960, at the age of 17, in “Echo” Company, 1st Bn, 137th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, Kansas Army National Guard, Arkansas City Kansas.  After rising in the ranks to Staff Sergeant he attended the Kansas Military Academy Officer Candidate School and received his commission as a Second Lieutenant April 22, 1967.  Over the next thirty years he served in company, battalion, division, and Army Reserve Command levels. One assignment was a two year tour with the 2nd Eskimo Scout Battalion in Bethel, Alaska.  As a Lt. Colonel then Colonel in the Army Guard Reserve program, he served six years on the Army General Staff and in the Office, Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon.  Then was assigned as Director, Resource Management of the Army Reserve Personnel Center in St. Louis, MO., where he served throughout the Gulf War Desert Shield/Desert Storm operations.

Throughout his military career, Col. Lind received many awards to include the Legion of Merit Medal, Meritorious Service Medal w/1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal w/1 Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal w/1 Service Star, Korean Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/Hour Glass Device, the Army Superior Unit Award, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon w/Numeral 1, Kansas State Five Year Service Medal, Secretary of Defense Identification Badge, Army General Staff Identification Badge, Excellence in Competition Badge (Bronze Pistol), and Expert Marksmanship Badges for the .45 Cal. Pistol, as well as the M-1, M-14, and M-16 Military Service Rifles.  As a Sergeant he was a member of the 1st Armored Division’s Advanced Marksmanship Unit and as an officer was the pistol team Captain for the 89th Training Division taking 2nd place in the Fifth Army Area’s competition.  On Sept. 15, 2014 he was inducted in the Kansas Army National Guard Officer Candidate School’s Hall of Fame.  Then on March 11, 2020 he was inducted in the US Army Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame.

Col. Lind was member of the First Church of Christ Scientist locally and in Boston, MA.   He was also a part of several organization including the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Cowley County Amateur Radio Club.   He enjoyed target shooting and military history.  Colonel Lind had a deep and abiding love for God, country and family.  He will be missed by all who knew him.

Surviving to honor his memory is his wife of 55 years, Sharon of the home; his 6 children, Elizabeth Harned (Brian) of Johnson Creek, WI; George Michael Lind, JR., of Puerto Rico; Rebecca Louise Lind of Indian Head, MD, Rachel Shana Bretz(David) of Houston, TX; Thomas Edward Lind (Kristina) of Princeton, NJ and Nathan Daniel Lind of Fort Worth, TX; his nephew, Ethan Lind of Arkansas City; his 12 grandchildren, Sarah Beth, Noah, Phoebe, Christopher, Parker, Austin, Daniel, Aiden, Jacob, Emily, Hannah and Lillian.   He was preceded in death by his parents, and one brother, Daniel Lind and his wife Bobbie.  

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