Major Harvey Gray Cox, USAF (Ret.)

September 1, 1923 – November 13, 2017

Major Harvey Gray Cox, USAF (Ret.), 94, passed away on November 13, 2017, in San Antonio, Texas. He was born in Holmes Co., Mississippi on September 1, 1923, to William Winfred Cox and Bessie Jane Cox. Harvey graduated from Vaiden High School, Vaiden, MS. on April 18, 1941. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in Jackson, MS. Within 2 years, he was accepted in the Army Air Corp Cadet program. He was awarded his wings and commissioned Dec 5, 1943 at Blytheville, AAF, AR. After graduation he was assigned as a B-17 pilot. After WWII, he was sent to Orchard Place IL. as an Air Force Recruiter and Ferry pilot. While he was assigned there, he was sent to Germany to fly the C-54 for the Berlin Airlift flying 189 missions in support of Operation Vittles. In 1953, he was sent to Narsarssuak, Greenland as Base Operations Manager and pilot. From there, Maj. Cox was assigned to Kelly AFB, TX and Travis AFB, CA as a C-54 pilot. Shortly thereafter he was assigned to Brooks AFB, TX as a Medivac pilot. He completed his 20-year military career at Tinker AFB, OK as a Facilities Check Pilot. He was a recipient of 3 Air medals and Air Force Commendation medal. Maj. Cox retired from the US Air Force as a Command Pilot on Oct. 31, 1961 choosing San Antonio, TX as his retirement home. He spent the remainder of his 40-year working career in securities and investments as a stock broker in San Antonio. 

During WWII, Major Cox was assigned to the 8th Air Force, 95th Bomb Grp, 334 Bomb Sq. On his 18th mission as a 2nd Lieutenant Co-pilot, he was shot down on June 23, 1944 and rescued by the Belgian Underground that was a life line-line for thousands for Allied soldiers across war-torn Europe. Maj. Cox was one of more than two dozen Allied military men who escaped German reprisal by passing through the "safe house" of Yvonne Suys and her parents en route to safety. Maj. Cox was a secret guest in the Suys home for six weeks before Yvonne passed him on to another underground agent in Brussels. The liberation of Belgium came not long thereafter, so Cox was rescued near the French border. Major Cox has continued his life-long friendship with Yvonne, his "Angel of Mercy" and her family. 

He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Natalie Cox. 

Major Cox is survived by his brother, James A. Cox and wife Jenny of Vaiden, MS, son, Harvey G. Cox, Jr. and wife Darlene; son, Timothy A. Cox and wife Joy; son, Mark C. Cox and husband Ronald Wood; daughter, Barbara A. Harris and husband Rocky; 6 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. 

The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 28, 2017, and Service, Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017, 11:30 a.m., at Porter Loring North. 

Rev. Dr. Edward J. Kern, officiating. 

Interment will follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.