James Alan Hassell

Col. James Alan Hassell, 80, of Shalimar, Florida, beloved husband, father and friend, died on April 28, 2025.  A twenty-six year United States Air Force veteran, Col. Hassell was born June 5, 1944 in New York, New York, to Laura Collom and Donald Hassell. He graduated from Tottenville High School in Staten Island, and earned a degree in geology from Allegheny College, Pennsylvania, where he was in the ROTC. He attended pilot training at Craig Air Force Base, Selma, Alabama, then C-130 qualification school at Stewart AFB, Nashville, Tennessee.  

In 1966, he was first assigned to the 67th Rescue and Recovery Squadron, Moron Air Base, Spain then to RAF Woodbridge, England, where he flew rescue and recovery missions including in support of NATO and the United States-manned space program. At the 39th Rescue and Recovery Squadron, Cam Rahn Bay, Vietnam, he flew combat search-and-rescue missions behind enemy lines in Laos and North Vietnam. Returning to the United States, he acted as the HC-130 standardization pilot for the Aircrew Training and Test Wing at Hill AFB, Utah, followed by a move to Scott AFB, Illinois, where he held a variety of positions, including as Deputy Director of the Special Activities Division of Headquarters Military Airlift Command. He was Chief Pilot for the 37th Tactical Squadron and Chief of the Airlift Control Element at Rhein Main AFB, Germany, managing all US military airlift operations at civilian airports throughout Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, then was named Commander of the 1100 Services Squadron at Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C.  In 1988, he became Deputy Director of Operations, 1st Special Ops Wing, Hurlburt Field, FL, where he was instrumental in the planning and execution of special operations during the invasion of Panama and Operation Desert Shield/Storm. His final assignment was as Director for Military Matters, Office of the Coordinator of Counter-Terrorism, US Department of State, where he coordinated highly sensitive classified operations and was awarded the Superior Service Medal. Col. Hassell received numerous other awards during his career, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation and the National Defenses Service Medal.

Col. Hassell is survived by his wife of fifty-eight years, the former Carole Ann Hills (he spotted her in her blue coat and red tights in the high school auditorium and the rest is history); daughter, Kristen (Patrick White) of Atlanta, Georgia; son, Colin (Sophia Coleman); and grandson, Jack of Seattle, Washington; and sister, Louise (John Fedorczyk) of Sherrill’s Ford, North Carolina. He was a published author. He adopted and loved shelter dogs. He made delicious cherry pies, and he loved driving around town in his restored military jeep with the gigantic mounted recoiless rifle.  

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at Davis-Watkins Funeral Home at 113 Racetrack Road in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, with a reception for friends beginning at 10:00 a.m. Col. Hassell will be buried with full military honors in Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Florida. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society, 725 Lovejoy Road Northwest, Fort Walton Beach, Florida 32548.