Joseph P. McGillis

J Patrick was recognized for his consummate flying abilities and quickly promoted to Aircraft Commander, flying jet transports in worldwide operations. Later assigned to South East Asia to fly AC-119K gunships ("Stinger"), he flew armed night reconnaissance over the Ho Chi Minh Trail, interdicting enemy insurgents and truck convoys. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross while completing over 200 combat missions.

Dad’s Bio from Carol, Erin and Joe:

Joseph Patrick “Pat” McGillis was born August 1,1944 in Deer Lodge Montana, where he grew up and spent most of his life. He graduated from Powell County High School in 1962 and the University of Montana in 1966 where he received his bachelor of Science degree and Air Force commission. He was granted a one year deferment to attend graduate school at Stanford University, earning a degree in Physical Therapy in 1967.

On August 20, 1966, Pat married Carol Ann Donich. They had both grown up together in Deer Lodge and were to stay together for 48 years until Pat’s death on February 12, 2015 at age 70.

Pat’s heart’s desire was to fly airplanes. He and Carol spent a year in Big Spring, Texas where Pat attended flight school at Webb AFB. In January 1969, they moved to Moore, OK for Pat to learn to fly C-141 aircraft and then put this to practice at McCord AFB Tacoma, WA from March 1969 to July 1970. In August 1970, Pat was TDY in Columbus, Ohio for AC-119K Gunship training. This lasted until his deployment in Dec 1970 for his 1 year tour of duty in Thailand/Vietnam. During his tour, Pat flew 200 nighttime combat missions with his nine member aircrew over the Ho Chi Minh Trail in northern and southern Laos and Cambodia and southern Vietnam as Aircraft Commander of AC119K “Stinger” Gunships with the 18th Special Operations Squadron. He was awarded the Air Medal and Distinguished Flying Cross. After returning stateside in Feb 1972, Pat was deployed to McGuire AFB in New Jersey and continued flying C-141 aircraft until Feb 1973.

After completing his service in the Air Force, Pat returned to Deer Lodge and opened his practice, Powell County Physical Therapy, where he worked for 40 years taking care of his patients until his retirement in 2010.

He and Carol were blessed with 2 children and 5 grandchildren and nothing meant more to Pat than spending time with his family. He proudly attended every ball game, concert, holiday program, wedding and graduation. Pat was also well-known for his time spent in the garage, working on whatever needed fixing. If you couldn’t fix it, take it to Pat! The garage was his happy place.

Pat loved to remind his children and grandchildren on many occasions that “it’s always the things you never want to do in life that you will learn from the most.”