Everett Sr. Kidder

Everett C. Kidder, Sr. passed away at his home in Petersburg, Virginia, on August 24, 2006. Born July 21, 1908 at Quincy, Massachusetts, he was 98 years old. He resided in Petersburg for the last 43 years. He was preceded in death by his wife, Velma Damon Kidder, of Scituate, Massachusetts, his father, Clinton H. Kidder and mother, Delphine Prario Kidder, of Hanover, Massachusetts and two older brothers, Harold R. Kidder of Braintree, Massachusetts and Henry Kidder of Marshfield, Massachusetts. He is survived by his son, Everett C. Kidder, Jr. of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and two granddaughters, Galen Marie Kidder, of Savannah, Georgia and Lauren Damon Kidder, of Miami, Florida. Col Kidder has lived a fabulous life. As a young man, during the Great Depression, he worked as a crew chief for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, traveling throughout the New England states for Japanese Beetle and European Corn borer control. After a short time with the Prudential Insurance Company, in Boston, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps on the advent of Pearl Harbor. He attended Officer Candidate School and received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant, and was sent to the China, Burma, India Theater (CBI). His squadron, the 51st Fighter Control Squadron, was located in various remote sites in Northern Burma and Assam, India from 1942 to 1945. Lt. Kidderâ??s duties included guiding air strikes against the advancing Japanese forces and guiding transport planes over the â??Humpâ?, the rugged Himalayan mountain range between India and China. He received a promotion to 1st Lieutenant and then to Captain during his CBI service. After WWII, he returned for a short time to civilian life with Prudential, but in 1950 the Korean conflict dictated the need for his services, and his country called him again, this time to command a radar air defense squadron on Resolution Island, just off the southern tip of Greenland. His service assignments during the Cold War included duties in Alaska, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, Georgia, and Tokyo, Japan. During this time he was promoted to Major and to Lt. Colonel, and received numerous commendations and awards. He trained NATO troops in radar intercept procedures at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, and received a commendation from the Japanese Air Self Defense Force for his efforts to improve their air defense capabilities during his tour in Japan. His last tour of duty was at Ft. Lee, in Petersburg, Virginia, where he was retired from active duty in 1973. Col Kidder was active in community affairs, as a volunteer for the American Red Cross. He has worked with disabled persons, the Petersburg literacy program, and Meal on Wheels. His family will receive visitors and condolences at Col. Kidderâ??s home on September 1 and 2, between 2-5 pm. Col. Kidder will be interred with a brief ceremony at his family plot in Groveland Cemetery, Scituate, Massachusetts, on September 20 at 1 pm. In lieu of flowers, send donations to the Crater Community Hospice, 840 Roslyn Road, Suite E, Colonial Heights, VA 23834-3547. Funeral arrangements are being made by J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Petersburg, VA. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com .