Farlin "Far" Wesley Arrington

Far, the son of K.R. Arrington and Juanita Sullivan (both deceased), was born in Twin Falls, ID on 15 August 1943. He lived on a farm east of town until he was 11 years old. He did chores and raised 80 rabbits.

He moved to Boise, Idaho in 1954 where he became a First Class Boy Scout, and a paperboy for the Idaho Evening Statesman. He attended Cole Elementary, West Junior High, and Borah High School where he ran the 220-yard dash as a sophomore and wrestled Junior Varsity as a junior. He discovered the joy of lifting weights, which became a life-long passion. He graduated in May 1961.

He joined the Navy on 12 June 1961 going doing Recruit Training in San Diego in Company 211, which won many competitions/honors. He was a member of the winning rope climbing team. He applied himself to tests and was accepted to attend the Naval Academy Preparatory School (NAPS) at Bainbridge, MD. He was assigned to Company 3, Section 32. In the spring of 1962, he was his Company's "physical fitness jock" doing 587 sit-ups during the Battalion's Field Day.

He became a Midshipman on 26 June 1962 and endured a rigorous Plebe Summer where he learned how to memorize many Academy facts and traditions. Despite previous limited exposure to firearms, he was awarded Expert Rifle and Pistol Shot Medals during Plebe Summer. He spent two years in Company 13 (Brigade was 24 Companies), surviving a RIGOROUS Plebe Year. He also discovered Gymnastics, earning a Plebe "1966" Letter in Still Rings. He spent his "Enlisted" 1963 Summer Cruise at the Amphibious Base, Little Creek, VA and aboard the USS Shangri La (CVA-38) sailing off the east coast. He had some difficulties with Academics and learned how to study his Youngster Year (sophomore). He spent his 1964 Aviation Summer Cruise at the NAS Pensacola, FL and Jacksonville, FL. He also attended a Summer Academics Program at the Academy. Company 13 became Company 19 (Brigade became 36 Companies) when he was a Secondo (Junior). He attained Superintendent's List one semester and slowly increased his Class Standing. He spent his 1965 "Officer" Summer Cruise on the USS Rogers (DD-876) sailing off the west coast and Hawaii. He was one of the few to complete the Practical Factors, which became a life-long memento. He became a Varsity Gymnast in the (Still Rings) being able to do an "Iron Cross". He earned two Varsity "N" Letters. Far graduated and became an Ensign on 8 June 1966.

He selected flight training and flew the T-34B Mentor in Training Squadron One (VT-1) at NAAS Saufley Field. His excellent aptitude enabled him to go jet. He flew the T-2A Buckeye at Training Squadron Seven (VT-7) at NAAS Meridian, MS. He then reported to Training Squadron Four (VT-4) at NAS Pensacola, FL for aerial gunnery and carrier landings. He scored 14 hits on the banner and accomplished four carrier landings aboard the USS Lexington (CVA-16). He then reported to Training Squadron Twenty-Two (VT-22) at Kingsville, TX in 1967 to fly the swept-wing TF9 Cougar. The four syllabus included acrobatics, instruments, formation, navigation, bombing, aerial gunnery, air combat maneuvering, and five carrier landings. He was awarded his Naval Aviator Wings in 23 December 1967.

Far went to Attack Squadron One Twenty-Five (VA-125) at NAS Lemoore, CA to become an Attack Pilot. But he first had to go through Deep Water Environmental Survival at NAS North, Island, CA and Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) School in Warner Springs, near San Diego during January 1968. SERE was a week of crawling and starving followed by two days in a Prisoner of War camp. Plebe Year helped him through another ORDEAL.

VA-125 was the west coast Replacement Air Group (RAG) which trained aviators to fly the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. Far flew the A-4C and learned additional skills.e.g, aerial refueling, night carrier landings, and how to survive a combat environment in preparation for the Southeast Asia Theater.

Far was ordered to the Attack Squadron One Forty-Four (VA-144) Roadrunners to fly the A4-E. VA-144 deployed on the USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31) in 1969, when he flew 73 combat missions, mostly over Laos. He was awarded an Air Medal (Individual Action) for bombing an AAA site at Mu Gia Pass and a Navy Commendation Medal (Combat V) in 1969 for hitting an 'ammo dump' at night in Laos setting off over 40 secondary explosions.

In 1970, he went to Training Squadron Nine (VT-9) at NAS Meridian, MS as a flight instructor (acrobatics, instruments, spins, and formation) flying the T-2B and T-2C Buckeyes. He also assumed the great responsibility of being an Aviation Safety Officer. In 1971, he transferred to Training Squadron Four (VT-4) at NAS Pensacola, FL to implement VT-9's syllabus flying the T-2C Buckeye. He lived on Pensacola Beach and owned a 1971 "454" Corvette.

In 1972, he went to the USS Hancock (CVA-19) as a Cats & Gear Officer in WESTPAC and flew the C-1A Trader, the ship's Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) aircraft. He worked 18 hour days, ensuring that launch & recovery of aircraft was safe. He also learned how to lead 100 enlisted men.

In 1974 Far went to Attack Squadron One Twenty-Seven (VA-127) at NAS Lemoore, CA, as an instrument flight instructor and Aircraft Division Officer. This was a rewarding assignment with much satisfaction. He was Honorably Discharged in June 1976. He flew 2,250 hours with157 carrier landings. His other awards include the Air Medal (7 Strike/Flight), Meritorious Unit Commendation (2), Navy Unit Commendation, Viet Nam Service Medal (3 Stars), and Viet Nam Cross of Gallantry (Palm).

In July 1979, he started working for Defense Mapping Aeronautical Center (DMAAC) at St.Louis, MO digitizing aeronautical charts and supporting DOD airports database system. In 1980, he attended Purdue University at West Lafayette, IN for a year taking civil engineering courses in engineering optics, geodesy, orbit mechanics, photogrammetry, and remote sensing. In 1983, he was DMAAC's key Digital Aeronautical Flight Information System (DAFIS) project officer. In July 1987, he became a GM-14 Physical Scientist at Headquarters OMA in Washington, DC. In July 1988, he was the Agency's lead program manager for ARC Digitized Graphics (ADRG) program. He started climbing mountains in 1991, completing 26 State high points. In June 1994, he became DMA's Liaison Officer based at Camp Zama, Japan. He traveled to Korea, Philippines, Taiwan, and Thailand. Far joined the Hash House Harriers, a jogging club, and climbed Mt. Fuji in August 1997. He then moved to St. Louis, MO to be DMA's Compressed ADRG program manager. Far earned many performance and promotion awards in OMA. He retired in November 2002 and moved back to Boise, Idaho.

In 2006 he chartered a Pack and Troop for Africa and Middle East boys for nine years, leading both as Cubmaster and Scoutmaster. His efforts led to two Eagle Scouts and most Scouts earning over 50 Merit Badges. He also earned the Order of the Arrow's Vigil level.

Far was a Life Member of Fleet Reserve Association (FRA), National Rifle Association (NRA), Tailhook Association (# 174), U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association, and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). He was also a member of the American Legion, Smith & Wesson Collectors Association, Geological Society of America, and the Cactus & Succulent Society.

He was always curious seeking knowledge of all things. He had 3,000 books on history, geology, religions, military heroes, nature, astronomy, organized crime, and motion pictures. He particularly liked ancient history, i.e., Sumer, Assyria, Egypt, Greece, Hattusa, Rome, Inca, and Mayan. And he also knew much about wars through the ages. He had over 3,000 DVDs, and loved 1930's motion pictures, John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, and those by Akira Kurosawa.

He was interred at the Idaho State Veterans in Boise, ID.

Arrangements are under the direction of Bowman Funeral Parlor, Garden City. 208-853-3131