Karl Jay Froehlich, beloved father, grandfather, teammate, and friend, passed away peacefully on Thursday, 17 July 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, 22 August 2025, at Wiley Funeral Center, 420 Highway 377 East, Granbury, Texas. A Committal Service with Full Military Honors will follow at
3:00 PM that afternoon at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, TX 75211. Karl was born on 26 May 1951 in Neptune, New Jersey.
Pararescue Assignments: 76th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron (ARRS) at
Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii; 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand; 41st ARRS at McClellan AFB, California; 106th ARRS, Suffolk County, New York. Air Reserve Technician (ART) PJ at the 303rd ARRS at March AFB, California.
Significant Accomplishments:
Operation Eagle Pull, the helicopter evacuation of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, prior to its fall to the Khmer Rouge on 12 April 1975, Operation Frequent Wind, the final evacuation of American civilians and at-risk Vietnamese from Saigon, South Vietnam, before its fall to the North Vietnamese Army. From 29–30 April, 1975. Mayaguez Rescue Mission, from 12–15 May 1975,
(Distinguished Flying Cross for valor); Team member of the 1979 Pitsenbarger Award for top Pararescue Team in the United States Air Force; Team member of the 1980 Top American Pararescue Team at SAREX 1980.
Karl remained a lifelong learner, earning a Master’s
Degree in Chemical Engineering in his 50s. He later worked as a Firefighter, Paramedic, and Environmental Safety Officer in oil fields worldwide. He was a proud 32nd Degree Mason, an active member of both the Pararescue Association and Fly-Fishing Association. He found great fulfillment in his later years as a highly certified baseball umpire, officiating national
championship games in Cooperstown, New York.
Despite all his achievements, Karl’s greatest joy came from his family. He will be forever missed by his children, grandchildren, teammates, friends, and his loyal companion, Rocket. Above all else, Karl lived by the creed: “That Others May Live.”
For more information regarding Karl Froehlich’s funeral or Celebration of Life, please contact harry.swanson@att.net.
817-913-7582
Kcsimm13@gmail.com
Kasie Simmons, Daughter
Thanks.
Steven S West
Vice President
Pararescue Association
614-207-4227c
It is my duty as a Pararescueman to save life and to aid the injured. I will be prepared at all times to perform my assigned duties quickly and efficiently, placing these duties before personal desires and comforts. These things we do, that others may live.
Bill Watson
President,
Pararescue
Association
m:2062458309
w:pjassociation.com
e:bill.watson@pjassociation.com
Strengthening relationships among all USAF Pararescuemen and Combat Rescue Officers – past, present, and future; fostering camaraderie among those who have earned the
title, PJ/CRO; while providing an extended community for all USAF Pararescuemen/CRO's and their families.
