Vet/pilot Kris Kristofferson , 88, dead
Kris Kristofferson, who seems to have had as many successful careers as many of us have had cars, died at his Hawaii home Saturday at age 88.
“It is with a heavy heart that we share the news our husband/father/grandfather, Kris Kristofferson, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 28 at home. We’re all so blessed for our time with him. Thank you for loving him all these many years, and when you see a rainbow, know he’s smiling down at us all,” his family said in a statement shared with PEOPLE.
Did someone say rainbow? Here Comes That Rainbow Again
After graduating with his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from Pomona, Kristofferson earned a Rhodes Scholarship and his master’s in English literature at Oxford University’s Merton College in 1960.He joined the U.S. Army and, within five years, became a helicopter pilot and reached the rank of captain. While serving in West Germany in the early ’60s, Kristofferson continued to explore songwriting and formed a band with other soldiers. Upon completion of his tour of duty in Germany, Kristofferson was offered a job teaching English at West Point military academy. He soon made his way to Nashville, Tenn., while on leave, which reinvigorated his passion for music and led to him resigning from the Army in 1965. People
A bit missing from that characterization….Golden Glove boxer, Rhodes Scholar – little stuff. And the important bits to us: you know, completing chopper school and Ranger training?
He became a helicopter pilot after receiving flight training at Fort Rucker, Alabama. He also completed Ranger School. During the early 1960s, he was stationed in West Germany as a member of the 8th Infantry Division. In 1965, after his tour in Germany ended, Kristofferson was given an assignment to teach English literature at West Point. Instead, he decided to leave the Army and pursue songwriting. His family disowned him because of his career decision; sources are unclear on whether they reconciled. They saw it as a rejection of everything they stood for, although Kristofferson says he is proud of his time in the military and received the Veteran of the Year Award at the 2003 American Veterans Awards ceremony. Wiki
Should be noted his father was an Army officer who later became a brigadier general in the Air Force. So, Kris took to writin’ songs…and what songs:
“Me and Bobby McGee”, “For the Good Times”, “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down”, and “Help Me Make It Through the Night”
All great songs that helped make stars of other artists….it’s worth noting, all of these came from ONE Kristofferson album. Other great songs followed: “Border Lord”, “Silver-Tongued Devil”, “Jesse Younger”, “The Pilgrim”…the list goes on and on. Lesser known albums, too, like “Spooky Lady’s Sideshow” and “Easter Island” (one of his absolute best). I know sometimes he was accused of not being a great singer – for my money, though, a number of his songs can ONLY be sung by him.
Wasn’t enough for Kris. He also took up acting, starring in Peckinpah’s masterpiece “Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid”, “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Any More” “A Star is Born”, the Blade Movies, “Payback” (my favorite Mel Gibson movie, btw) “Semi-Tough”, and over 110 others per IMDB. A side gig, huh….was even nominated for an Oscar – I guess to balance his other awards.
Kristofferson wrote music that spoke to the soul. Lot of folks like that ( Army vet John Prine was another) are shuffling off this mortal coil. Willie is now the last of the Highwaymen and the world is poorer now.
I’ll leave you with a song to remember him at his best: Saber and the Rose
When asked what he believed to be the secret of life, Kristofferson told Men’s Journal in 2017, “I had a list of rules I made up one time. It says: Tell the truth, sing with passion, work with laughter, and love with heart. Those are good to start with anyway.”
Amen, sir.
Category: Army, We Remember
May he rest in peace
Here’s one you missed🇺🇸
https://youtu.be/zIQPysiz9c4
Cisco Pike…RIP!
That time Kris Kristofferson landed a Huey in Johnny Cash’s yard to give him his demo tape.
https://www.whiskeyriff.com/2024/09/29/kris-kristofferson-once-landed-a-helicopter-in-johnny-cashs-yard-to-pitch-him-sunday-morning-coming-down/
The rainbow mentioned in the Bible. That’s how you look down from heaven.