GyBill
05-31-2009, 10:06 PM
Frederick Paul Siedentopf, Jr. was born Feb. 5, 1942 in Queens, NY, to Frederick Paul and Madeline (Stoffel) Siedentopf, Sr. Fred passed away on Memorial Day, May 25, 2009. He was predeceased by his parents and survived by devoted wife Judy, whom he married Dec. 2, 1972; a sister, Patty Moakly of Phoenix, AZ; two daughters, Cindy K. (Michael S.) Gay of St. Helena and Debra D. (Robert "Andy" V.) Anderson of Augusta, GA; two grandchildren: Steven L. King, Jr. of Augusta and Ashley M. Boyles of Beaufort; and three great grandchildren. Master Gunnery Sergeant F.P. Siedentopf retired from the United States Marine Corps after serving thirty-one years on active duty. Starting as a Reservist "grunt" in 1959, he integrated into the Regular Marine Corps upon graduation from recruit training and opted for training as an avionics technician. After training at NAS Memphis, TN and assignment to Sea Duty aboard the USS Boxer, LPH-4, Fred participated in Cuban Missile Crisis rescue operations. In 1968, after Sea Duty and various posting to aviation units in the states and abroad, he retrained as a technician on the Tactical Air Operations Center (TAOC), at the time the most sophisticated computer system for aircraft interception. Fred was a Cold War Veteran and Vietnam Veteran, who served with the first combat Marine Air Control Squadron in Vietnam. Until his retirement in 1990, he served in various technical billets and logistics billets as both a Supply Officer/Supply Chief and Logistics Officer/Logistics Chief. He developed the MIMMS system, still in use, to track resupply in the Corps. His personal decorations include the Good Conduct Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal (2 awards), the Navy Commendation Medal (2 awards), and the Meritorious Service Medal. Fred's service to his country continued after active duty, as public affairs officer of Marine Corps League YFD#1154, in service to Beaufort Military Affairs Committee, Beaufort Chamber of Commerce, and Beaufort Military Retiree Council. His passion, beyond love of family, Corps, and community, was writing. An avid Letter to the Editor writer, Fred was also a contributing writer to Bruce's Really Good Quotes writing the column, "Imp-Revised News" as "The Bad Sied." He was co-founders and co-editor of Milspeak Memo. "Sied" was a warrior, master leader, mentor, loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend with a wonderful sense of humor who will be genuinely missed by the many people whose lives he touched. The family will receive friends Sunday, May 31, 4-6pm, at Anderson Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held Monday, June 1, 1:30pm, Carl Anderson Memorial Chapel, followed by full military honors at the National Cemetery and a reception at the VFW Post, Castle Rock Road, Beaufort.