Prior to joining the U.S. Army, Joseph grew up in The Dalles Oregon, where he attended The Dalles High School, graduating with the Class of 1966. Around noon on 29 August 1967, a UH-1D helicopter, tail number 65-10018 departed Blackhorse to recover another downed ship. The weather was bad and while attempting to return to home station, the aircraft entered a cloud bank. No further contact was made with the aircraft and a search conducted. The aircraft was missing. The aircraft and the bodies of the men were later recovered and their status changed from missing to dead on November 20, 1967. The six (6) men killed when their helicopter crashed were: 1LT Sharel "Spike" Edward Bales, Berthoud Colorado (Pilot) 1LT David Colin Hall, Hanson, Massachusetts (Aircraft Commander) SP4 Peter Steven Martinez, Chicago, Illinois (Crew Chief) SGT Louis Charles Muser II, Hoboken, New Jersey (Passenger) SSG Richard Lee Scaduto, New Castle, Pennsylvania (Passenger) SP4 Joseph Leon Whitaker, Jr, Ontario, Oregon (Gunner) He was survived by his wife Mrs. Victoria B. Whitaker of Hood River Oregon, his parents Bonnie and Joseph Leon Whitaker Sr (1923-2015)., and his brother James "Jimmy" Whitaker of The Dalles Oregon. He was buried in Odd Fellows Cemetery, The Dalles, Wasco County, Oregon. His father, Joe was called to service in the United States Army where he proudly served and trained as a medic during WWII. He served for 3 years, and was stationed in the Philippines, New Guinea, and finally Japan. - - - The Virtual Wall, August 29, 2016

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