Major Louis Charles Tienken

Tienken, Louis Charles, 92; passed away peacefully on October 30, 2017 surround by his loving family.  Lou was born on August 17, 1925 in Queens, New York to Charles & Dorothy Tienken.  On March 12, 1942 Lou enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps.  After graduating cadet school as a 2nd Lieutenant, Lou was assigned to the 11th Bomb Group.  Operating from Espiritu Santo, November 29, 1942, he was operating from Henderson Field Guadalcanal.  On July 7, 1944, returning from a reconnaissance mission, Lou’s plane and group was hit by heavy gunfire and ditched.  Approximately four hours later, floating on a raft, they were then picked up by a Japanese cruiser and taken to Camp Wakayama, Japan and then to Kobe POW Hospital.  After he could be moved, Lou was sent to Subcamp #5, Niigata where he was a POW for 13.5 months.  Lou was awarded a Purple Heart for his service to our country.  He was a volunteer for the New Port Richey Police Department and Fire Department and active in the Masonic Lodge and with the Shriners.  Lou is survived by his loving and devoted wife Bonnie; daughter Viola DeGal; blended children Robert Allen Hight, David James Hight; Deborah Lynn Holmes, and Catherine Spitzer; niece Milley; and a host of grandchildren, family, and friends.

A visitation will be held on Friday November 3, from 10:00~12:00 when a service will begin at 12:00.  Lou will be laid to rest at Meadowlawn Memorial Gardens with Military Honors.