Allen Charles Hargest

We would like to extend our gratitude to all the relatives, friends, and attendees who have come here to honor Allen Charles Hargest, a person we have come to love and cherish for many years. All of us have known him in a variety of roles. He has been an amazing husband, father, uncle, cousin, grandpa, and friend.

 Upon finishing high school, he enlisted into the army. He had the honor of being accepted into the 82nd airborne division, specializing in parachute assault into hostile areas operations with the US Department of Defense, mandated to be on call to fight anytime, anywhere. The 82nd Airborne Division is the US Army’s most strategically mobile division. Allen met Janice Thompson during his enlistment in the army, where they had four children and were married for 66 years. He was assigned to his first military base in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

 After getting married and having their first son, Gregory Allen, they were transferred to Japan where he was stationed for 3 1/2 years. Soon after, their second son, Randy Charles, was born. One of the highlights of his career was playing for the US Army baseball team.

 He returned to the states to Fort Walter, Texas to attend the last class of the Flying Tigers to fly helicopters. During this time, his daughter, Amanda Gaye, was born. He was then sent to Fort Belvoir, Virginia. He was sent to Korea, during which time Misty was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina. During his time in Korea, he received a humanitarian award for airlifting 667 flood victims across central Korea. He also received a commendation for assisting the village orphanage during his time of service there.

 Upon returning from Korea, he was stationed in Utah. He then attended USC for aviation investigation. He was then sent to Fort Rucker, Alabama for transitions into other aircraft. After a few more moves, he served two different tours in Vietnam. After his return from Vietnam, he graduated at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida. He was transferred to MI Battalion in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was then sent to Zweibrücken, Germany and then stationed at Stuttgart, Germany at EUCOM to fly for the Allied Supreme Headquarters.

 After living six years in Germany, he was stationed at his final location at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, where he finished his distinguished career of 29 years. Upon retiring, he moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana and flew for an oil company for a short time. He moved to Jamestown, New York in 1984 and began his career with US Airways. After losing his youngest son in a military crash, he continued with his career with Airborne Express for 10 years and retired from commercial flight. Allen loved his family and enjoyed doing things with them and for them. He was willing to help out any way he could. Allen is survived by his wife Janice, his children Greg, Amanda and Misty, 7 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren. Allen had a strong love for many types of music that has been passed down to his children and grandchildren. He was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers and Pirates fan. Today we celebrate the honest and exceptional man that he was.