- Date Of Birth: December 1, 1947
- Date Of Death: January 7, 2020
- State: Texas
Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CW2 (Retired) John Karl Corathers – known to friends across the world as “JC” was born to Rush and Ethel Huther Corathers on 1 December 1947 in Carrabelle, Florida. He always wanted to live in Texas and from 1998 until 7 January 2020 he sure did! He left us a better world enriched by his generous love, easy laughter, great stories, and enduring contributions.
JC was a tree-climbing, pony-riding, plane-flying adventuresome boy who later dedicated over fifty years of his adult life to the defense of America, first as a solider, then as a government civilian. His service included Combat Infantryman, Green Beret special operations, Golden Knight Army Parachute Team member, OH58 Scout pilot, then Civilian Airfield Coordinator before coming to Fort Hood where for the past two decades, JC led the III Corps Exercise Planning office at Fort Hood. Here he supported several generations of Army senior leaders including the current one in the planning and conduct of realistic training exercises to support readiness, and frequently, for deployment to combat. As news of JC’s departure spread, his friends and colleagues recalled that working with JC was a common denominator across the Army. His mentorship, friendship, and ability to help each of us do just a little bit more and do it better were valued and cherished by the most senior of leaders and the most junior of soldiers—some even before he met them!
JC kept a newspaper article interview of a young soldier who spoke of why he joined the military. As a small child he’d seen JC’s Golden Knight parachute team to go THROUGH the Arches in St. Louis. JC and the soldier even met. As JC often said, “There are no accidents in God’s world.” Beyond the world of work as well, JC coached, taught, and mentored many who benefitted from his principled ability to support people in crisis; his capacity to cut through confusion and minutia to reveal the real problem; and his enduring love for and patience with people regardless of age, affluence, rank, or standing.
He was always proud of those he helped and only ever grateful for the opportunity to do so. JC of course wasn’t all “shut up and color,” so his retirement was full to the hilt! He especially enjoyed his beloved son, Johnny and his family. Spiritual growth, mentorship, volunteering with veterans at REACH, riding his Tennessee Walking Horse, Mack, and watching tv with his dog, Bella, kept him active and involved. JC was a friend among friends and brother among brothers. He gave his wonderous heart to his companion, Melanie Coon, with whom he shared his steadying, deep, and abiding love of humor, life, God, his fellows and pretty much everything. BTW, he never did abandon his quest for the perfect pistol.
Survivors include his son, John David Corathers (Tabatha) of Nashua, Iowa, grandchildren, John Corathers II (Liz), James Corathers, and Aaralyn Corathers, and two great grandchildren. They also include a legion of devoted friends, who JC enjoyed beyond measure. His purpose, hope, and prayer was for an Army that is better trained and prepared. While we will no longer hear “Love ya, brother” in our ears, we will forever hear the echoes in our hearts.
