Epitaph of David H. Pflegl ENMCPO U.S.N. Retired
These are my words on the history and impact of ENMCPO David H. Pflegl U.S.N. Retired, who was my Uncle Dave on my mother’s side to me.
I would have to say in the early years of knowing my Uncle Dave that he was a tough bird and one never won an argument with him. One would never want to cross Uncle Dave or you would have an understanding of old school.
I remember when my Grandmother Elsie would watch us down in the Sellwood area of Portland and Uncle Dave would come home from a hunt. Always was successful in hunting and even fishing. He lived upstairs in those days of her house, before he got he got remarried and moved out to Oregon City with purchase of Aero Acres up on Leland Rd. The whole upper area of the attic was full of hunting and fishing gear, a kid could be mesmerized by it all. Uncle Dave and Great Uncle Dave would do a lot of fishing, such as up in the Bull Run when it was legal. I remember on fishing trip to the Willamette River for Spring Chinook up by the falls with Uncle Dave and Bill Biggs (dad). Mom had packed me a lunch for the day, which included a banana. Uncle Dave said “bananas are bad luck in a boat, get rid of it.” We saw a lot of big Salmon jumping by the spillway, but we did not catch any Salmon. I never went in a boat with Uncle Dave again.
Yep! Uncle Dave at that time had a 1937 Taylor Craft plane and later a PT-19 Fairchild, which I did get to up once before I went into the Navy. I still remember the plate on the dash, that said do not do wing rolls in excess of 183 mph. I do believe that Uncle Dave even raced the PT in a couple of air shows in his 50’s.
PT 19 Fairchild Fixed Wing Trainer
Uncle Dave gave a lot to everyone that he touches over the course of 85 years. Uncle Dave would give you his shirt off is back, maybe even a transmission you need for your 1954 Ford that was in a car out on the airstrip. He had 5 sons by two marriages. There are 4 of them still around with David H. Pflegl (Butch) the oldest.
He taught all of his boys to be self sufficient and all them can twist a wrench and fix anything. One thing for sure about Uncle Dave, that if you needed something fix, he could get it done no matter the size of it.
As for hunting and fishing he left that legacy also with most of his sons and a few nephews. My first hunt that I went on with my dad was with Uncle Dave and his group of hunters, such as Uncle Harry, Uncle Monroe, Uncle Floyd, Jack Carroll, Danny Carroll and Bill Biggs (dad) to Egypt Wells, outside of Riley, Oregon. With the old 55 Studebaker loaded to hilt and trailer loaded also. Of course that group all tagged out on Mulie bucks up in the Silvies.
There is Boone & Crockett Blacktail that hangs in the log home in Oregon City up at Aero Acres to this day that was harvested in the Saddle Mountain area many years ago. Uncle Dave love to hunt with bow and arrow on the Hwy 26 Summit to the coast in the swamp. Just yesterday a customer came and we was talking about hunting the exact spot as Uncle Dave in the swamp with a rifle. Both would camp in the rest area and hunt the area.
Uncle Dave and his group hunt a great deal of Oregon, such as the Snake River Canyon when you could get two deer, Madison Butte and Texas Butte outside of Heppner, Oregon, there was the summit of Hwy 26 at the coast for archery elk, there was Northside Oregon for deer. I would even include the Steens Mtns., which he hunted later in life with the aid of his horse Brandy. Many of my own hunting partners from the past would run into Uncle Dave in the field and make friends with him. I could a report on Uncle Dave almost anytime from the field.
I remember in about 196- when Uncle Dave and Bill Biggs (dad) both bought Mannlicher Schoenauer Rifles with the Baush & Lomb 2.5 to 8 variable scopes on them in 30-06.
What great rifle to look and maybe get the chance to hunt with. Double set triggers, with the wood out to the end of barrel and high comb cheek piece. I have always thought I might get Dad’s someday…
As for Uncle Dave’s Navy experiences, I would say he was a WW II hero and was a Submariner during WW II and Korea.
“FRANK I AM RESEARCHING MILITARY HISTORY. DAD WAS ON THE USS CROAKER SS246 FROM COMMISSIONING TO DEC 1945.
http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08246.htm
USS POMFRET SS391 1950 TO 1952.
http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08391.htm
Google: WILLIAM ANDREW PFLEGL GO DOWN PAGE TO “ROSTER” SEE DAVID PFLEGL USS CROAKER SITE BY CLICKING ON ROSTER NOTICE THE CROAKER AT GALVESTON SEPT 45.. READ THE REST THERE. HE WAS ON THE USS POMFRET, WITH PRESIDENT (LTJG) JIMMY CARTER 1951 THRU 1952. LOOKING FOR DENNIS A “SHIPWRECK” KELLY OF FOUNTAIN VIEW, CA WHO WAS ON THE POMFRET SAME TIME AS DAD IN KOREA.” Butch
I remember seeing pictures of him coming off Boat to fight Japanese on the islands. I still believe that Butch has a 6.5 Jap rifle that he brought back from a fight. After the Korean War, Uncle Dave joined the Naval Reserves in Portland, OR. The base on Swan Island had a Submarine there for him to teach on.
He spent over 40 years in the Navy and retired out as an E-9 and was well known in the Naval Community. Funny I had old retired Submariners come into my work and they all knew him. It truly is a small world out there and one never knows who they run into from the past.
It was Uncle Dave that when I had 12 years in and having issues with work and Navy say “for no reason do you quit and give up on the Navy, work with just have to live with it.” With that I got Burns Bros., Inc worked out with the help of my Commanding Officer and I stayed in for a total of 27 years. The U.S. Navy nominated Jack H. Burns the CEO of Burns Bros., Inc. for Employer Recognition to the U.S. Naval Reserves and their duty.
Uncle Dave ashes will be spread out in the elk hunting country of Madison Butte outside of Heppner with Uncle Bobby (retired Colonel U.S. Air Force), plus one other person in their hunting group from the past who has yet to go. Maybe he will live to be a 100, as he has made it to 90. It seem the other or third person Uncle Floyd passed away also just recently within a month of Uncle Dave. I talked with Floyd Jones Jr. or Spike as I have called him for almost 5 decades, he told me that Uncle Floyd had made comment after the passing of Dave, that “he has loss his hunting partner and what is the use to stay around”. They hunted for more than 70 years together in the vast Oregon Territory from the Snake River Canyon to the Tillamook Head…
I do believe that one of the greatest Elk hunting trips was in 2001 when I was guiding Butch in the Grizzly Unit. Uncle Dave, Aunt Lillian, Butch, and Uncle Dave’s two other sons Mike and Henry were there on top of Horse Heaven. Uncle Dave had set up a huge camp with a squad tent the size of Grand Central Station. I have my son along with us, I told Frankie; I want you to remember this time, as it will be a memory to last a long time.
God! Watch over Uncle Dave and may he stay in Elk Camp. Frank
1937 Taylorcraft 80hp
August 8th, 2010 there was a fly in for Uncle Dave, or lets say a wake. I found it very touching to see more than a 100 people, including family member. Uncle Dave touch a great deal of people in his life. There had to more than 20 planes there. According to Aunt Lillian there were more planes on the hardeck than any other time. I wish I had taken more picture, but I am sure that Dave’s son Butch will send me some to add. I got to see family that I have not seen in many years… Before long the team from the past will have all of their ashes up at Madison Butte.
May God watch over Uncle Dave…
He was a tough bird for sure… One could never win an arguement with him while he still had hair. One tough hunter though, as he would sleep out in the snow with only an old mummy bag left from World War II… A great deal of people thought he was crazy to buy the place in Oregon City and have an airstrip… I know of the time that he and Bill Biggs were going to have an airstrip down at Bear Creek on the way to Lincoln City up in the hills… They all bought a shack on land, with enough of it for a airstrip… Only problem, I don’t think there was much game in the area to hunt…. Dense old growth and crap on the steep hillsides…… Bell Lang – Famous Hunter of the West.
AMEN TO THAT DON. BUTCH
Frank’s testimony is right on; 100% accurate.
I met Dave in about 1968 or 1969 when I was working with a mutual friend, Hezzie Strahan, at a small truck shop down below Aero Acres on Leland Road. Hezzie introduced me to Jim Wasson with the idea that I would help Jim paint his T-6, which I did. That activity included Dave.
Some years later, Dave provided the introduction that got me a job at Portland Wire and Iron Works; one that turned out to be an important step in my career.
I had been infected with the flying bug long before I met Dave and he contributed to my affliction by letting me (even encouraging me to) fly his airplanes for nothing. I put a lot of hours on his Stinson 108 and his Piper J-4. Took the Stinson to California a couple of times. Never got to fly the PT, though.
Frank put it perfectly when he said Dave would give you the shirt off his back. I’ve used that same phrase many, many times. Dave was one of the most generous men I’ve ever met. And Lillian deserves the same tribute. I never showed up at their home when the coffee pot wasn’t on or when I wasn’t pressured to have something to eat.
Back to flying his airplanes for nothing: I had to fight with Dave to even let me put gas in ’em. He didn’t have fuel at his place, so I would usually stop at Oregon City (Carus) and top off before returning to Aero Acres. If I left the airplane less than full, he would fill it up and say nothing.
Later in his life, I cut down a birch tree, cut it and split it and delivered a pickup load of firewood to Dave. He was clearly touched by the small gesture. I mention it because it’s the only time in 40 years I ever got one up on Dave Pflegl. He was always doing things for me and it was very difficult to do anything in return.
I never got on the wrong side of Dave and think few did. He made friends instead of enemies. But he was a man of principle and held strong beliefs. It would not have been good to cross him.
Dave Pflegl was one of the finest men I knew. I’m a better person for having known him and am proud he called me friend. His death is the world’s loss.
THANKS FRANK FOR THIS LOVING PROFILE OF DAD.
WE WILL ALL MISS HIM AND HIS SPIRIT OF HUNTING AND FISHING SUCCESS. HE WAS A GOOD FATHER AND A CARING INDIVIDUAL. HE HELPED EVERYONE WHO NEEDED IT, EVEN WITHOUT THEM ASKING.
OUR ENTIRE FAMILY AND CERTAINLY ALL HIS FRIENDS WILL REMEMBER HIM AS LONG AS THEY LIVE. WE ARE ALL BETTER OFF TO HAVE KNOWN HIM AND TO HAVE LIVED, HUNTED, FISHED AND FLOWN WITH HIM FOR SO VERY MANY YEARS. THANK YOU COUSIN.
DAVID FRANK PFLEGL(BUTCH)