Tributes

Colonel Roger (Rog) Allen Sorensen, USAF Retired, age 69, passed away at his home in Murrells Inlet on Sunday, December 6, 2009. Rog, the second child of Marvin L. Sorensen and Lenore Braun Sorensen, was born in December 1940, in Nicollet, MN. The family later moved to St. James, MN, where he graduated from high school. It was in St. James where he met his partner for life, Ella Mae (Elly) Johnson. At a very young age Rog already knew what his life's vocation would be. He wanted to be a fighter pilot. He received an appointment to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and graduated in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. Shortly after graduation he and Elly were married on June 22, 1963. He received a Masters Degree in Aerospace Management in 1968 from the University of Southern California and graduated from the National War College in 1976. As with most career military personnel, Rog and Elly saw the world together, except during his remote tour in Vietnam where he flew 131 combat missions. His career took him to Enid, OK; Tucson, AZ; Apple Valley, CA; Vietnam; Germany; Montgomery AL; Springfield, VA; Okinawa, Japan; The Philippines; Las Vegas, NV; Tampa, FL; Myrtle Beach, SC; and Austin, TX. It was during his tour in Myrtle Beach that he served as the Wing Commander of the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing. During his illustrious military career, Rog earned the following honors and medals: Silver Star; Legion of Merit; Distinguished Flying Cross (2); Meritorious Service Medal (3); Air Medal (9); Joint Service Commendation Medal; Air Force Commendation Medal; Air Force Presidential Unit Citation (2); Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor; Air Force Combat Readiness Medal (2); National Defense Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon (5); Marksmanship Ribbon; Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Rog retired from the Air Force on May 31, 1986, and he and Elly moved to their home in Mount Gilead in Murrells Inlet. Not one to sit idle very long, Rog later formed his own airplane sales company, Sun Air Sales which was headquartered at Ramp 66 in North Myrtle Beach. He never lost his love of flying. An avid outdoorsman, Rog enjoyed fishing, boating, golf, and his annual pheasant hunting trip to South Dakota. While he enjoyed his hobbies, Rog truly loved two things...his family and his country! Both will miss him deeply. Rog is survived by his wife Elly of Murrells Inlet; daughter Jennifer (Kevin) Kaylor of Pawleys Island; and three grandchildren, Christopher Kaylor, Caroline Kaylor, and Jackson Kaylor of Pawleys Island. Additional survivors are his brother, Bob (Anne) Sorensen, of St. James, MN, and his sister, Jan (Doug) Hart, of Mount Pleasant, SC. Rog was preceded in death by his parents, Marvin and Lenore Sorensen, of St. James, MN, and by a daughter, Chris Ellen Sorensen. A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, December 12th, at 10:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Myrtle Beach, with the Rev. Bobby Wilkes officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the church. Graveside Services will be held at 11a.m. Friday, January 29, 2010 at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 1306, Myrtle Beach, SC 29578; or to Happy Wheels, 1400 Madison Court, Mount Pleasant, SC 29466 (a charity benefitting the MUSC Children's Hospital). An online guestbook is available at www.goldfinchfuneralhome.com Goldfinch Funeral Home, Murrells Inlet, is assisting the family with arrangements.

Tributes

Roger Allen Sorensen

December 6, 2009