Jeffrey (Jeff) Roy
Past National Commander – Military Order of the Purple Heart
&
Chairman of the Board, MOPH Service Foundation
Jeff Roy is a native of Lawrence, Massachusetts and lived in the northern
Massachusetts southern New Hampshire area until he entered the US Army
in August of 1963. Currently he and his wife Angelique live in Longmont
Colorado. He has three grown children Diane Watson, Apache Junction, AZ;
Jeffrey, Leominster, MA; and Steven, Apache Junction, AZ and several grandchildren.
Jeff enlisted in the Army as a helicopter mechanic in August 1963. He completed his basic training at Fort Dix,
NJ and his advanced training at Fort Eustis, VA. He was assigned to the 4th Transportation Company (Medium
Helicopter) in Hanau, Germany upon completion of his training.
In 1965 he was accepted into the Army’s Warrant Officer Candidate Helicopter Pilot Course, which he
completed in June 1966. He was immediately assigned to the Army Maintenance Officers Course, Ft Eustis,
VA and to the 187th Assault Helicopter Company at Ft Bragg, NC. The 187th AHC deployed to Viet Nam in
February 1967 and was assigned to Tay Ninh, RVN. In December 1967 Jeff received a direct commission to
2LT and continued to serve with the 187th until his tour was over in February 1968. Jeff received his Purple
Heart at the end of his tour of duty. He was wounded during a night time mortar and rocket attack on his base
camp during the Tet Counter Offensive, February 1968. Jeff received minor shrapnel wounds and injuries from
the explosion of a 122mm rocket.
Jeff continued to serve on active duty until June of 1973. He completed a second tour in Viet Nam from
September 1969 to September 1970 with the 604th Transportation Company (Direct Support) and the 14th
Transportation Battalion (Aircraft Maintenance & Supply). After his second tour he was assigned to Fort
Rucker, AL as an instructor pilot until his discharge in 1973.
After his active duty tour he joined the Army Reserve and served in the 94th Army Reserve Command in New
England serving in various aviation and transportation units. He retired from the Army Reserve in 1994 after
completing his tour of duty as the Deputy Commander of the Army’s Aviation Depot in Corpus Christi, Texas at
the rank of Colonel. During this same period he worked for the Army as a civilian pilot until 1980 when he
transferred to the Federal Aviation Administration. He worked for the FAA as a Safety Inspector, Manager and
Executive retiring from the FAA and federal service in January 2002 after 39 years of government service.
Jeff has served in a number of capacities in the MOPH. He has served as Chapter Junior Vice Commander,
Senior Vice Commander and Commander of Chapter 375 (Denver) and Chapter Commander of Chapter 434
(Longmont); as well as Senior Vice Commander and Commander of the Department of Colorado, and Region
V Commander before being elected to the National Junior Vice Commander position which ultimately led to his
election as the National Commander for the 2008 – 2009 term. In 2010 he was selected to the MOPH Service
Foundation Board of Directors and currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Executive
Committee as well as several other committees including the Chair of the Grant Committee and Investment
Committee.
Jeff’s military decorations include the Master Army Aviator designation, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze
Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal (25
awards 2 for Valor), Army Commendation Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, Good Conduct Medal and
numerous service medals and ribbons. Jeff has also received several decorations from the Republic of Viet
Nam as well as several unit citations including the Meritorious Unit Award, the RVN Cross of Gallantry with
Palm and RVN Civil Action Honor Medal with Palm
Jeff’s has obtained a BS degree in Management, a Masters Degree in Public Administration, a Masters Degree
in Aeronautical Science and a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Management. He also belongs to the VFW, American
Legion, DAV, Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association and the Knights of Columbus along with his membership in
the MOPH.