Delmar Frank Mapes was born November 21,
1932 in Eli, Neb. to Frank LeRoy and Josephine Adeline (Taylor) Mapes, joining his older sister Nettie Mae. He died April 18, 2026, in Austin Texas.
Delmar attended rural Cherry County Nebraska school district 132 at Eli through the
8th grade and started high school in Cody, Neb. then quit when he was needed to help support the family.
He worked for several different ranches including the Churn. He was very good at breaking horses and rode bucking broncs in rodeos.
Delmar enlisted in the Air Force in 1952. He participated in many places including in 1956 the testing of series of seventeen nuclear detonations, stationed in Alaska during the search for Gary Powers down over Russia, and in 1963 went through H-43B helicopter training and then in 1965 training to go to Vietnam. He served two tours in Vietnam and one out of Thailand. In 1969, he served in South Korea during the Pueblo Crisis and was with the Apollo 15, Launch Site Recovery Forces in 1971. He was promoted to Master Sargent. Delmar retired January 31, 1973 and lived in Austin Texas.
Delmar’s awards and medals:
1956 - Recognition for being part of the Operation Redwing. This was the second U.S. test series devoted to proving thermonuclear designs of actual weapons. Testing the MK-28 warhead, a light small diameter thermonuclear design(20 inch diameter).
1962 - Good Conduct medal with w/Bronze or Silver loops for demonstration of exemplary behavior and fidelity 10 Dec.58 -9 Dec
61
1965 - Air Force Good Conduct medal -10 Dec 61-9 Dec 64
1966 January - Air Medal for Meritorious Achievement while participating in Aerial Flight 10 Oct 65-10 Oct 65
1966 March - Air Medal, 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, 30 Oct. 65
1966 August – Air Medal 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster 9 Dec 65
1966 September - Bronze Star for Meritorious service, 2 Oct 65 to 2 Aug 65
1966 December - Distinguished Flying Cross, 8 July 66 for heroism while participating in Aerial Flight
1967 January – Air Medal 3rd thru 10th Oak Leaf Cluster,1 Nov
65 13 July 1966 AF Out Standing Unit Award 5010 Air Base Wing
1968 December - Air Force Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service 26 July to 15 Dec 19 68
1969 September - Air Medal, 11th Oak Leaf Cluster 3 July 69 to
21 Aug 69
1969 November - The Distinguished Flying Cross, 1st Oak Leaf Cluster for service 18 Aug 1969
1969 - Helicopter Rescue Award for skill and courage while participating as a crew member on 18 Aug 68 in a lifesaving mission with a Sikorsky helicopter
1969 November - Air Medal 12 Oak Leaf Cluster 23 Aug to 21 October 69
1969 December - Air Medal 13th Oak Leaf Cluster 22 Oct 69 to
30 Nov 69
1970 February - Air Medal 14th Oak Leaf Custer 6 Dec 69
1970 May - Air Medal 15 OAK leaf Cluster 6 Jan 70-10 Feb 70
1970 - Helicopter Rescue Award Crew member on Silorsky helicopter, 5 Jan 70-14 Jan 70
1971 June-Distinguished Flying Cross, 3 Oak Leaf Cluster 5 Nov
69
1971 June- Air Medal 16th Oak Leaf Cluster 3 Dec 69 Jan 70
1970 April-Air Medal 17th Oak Leaf Cluster, 11 Feb 70 -29 Mar
70
1970 June 1970 Air Medal 18th 7 a9th Oak Leaf Cluster, 30 Mar
70-19 Mar 70
1970 July -Air Medal 20th Oak Leaf Cluster, 20 May 70-4 June
70
1971 - Apollo Award and Medallion. Launch Site Recovery Force-Apollo 15 and 26 July 71, Received Apollo 11 Medallion This humble sergeant says that earning his GED soon after enlisting in the Air Force is one of the accomplishments he was most proud of.
He married Amy Varnell Vogit on September 18, 1955, in Texas. They were blessed with four boys, Russell, Mark, Brian, & Steven. Amy died February 19, 2022.
Delmar is survived by sons Mark (Mary Ann) Brian Susan) Steven (Riann) and brothers James (Ann) Hemingford Neb., Norman (Betty) Fullerton, Neb..
There are 9 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by wife Amy, son Russell, Father Frank and Mother Josephine Adeline, Sister Nettie May Young (Al) Fort Morgan, Colo., Sister Dolly Votruba (Delbert) Grand Junction, Colo., Brothers Dale (Viola), Eugene, and Darold (Martha) Ankney, Iowa.