Max Lincks

Max “Paco” Lincks from Texas, was killed in a helicopter crash while deployed with the 20th SOS to the Republic of the Philippines for Exercise “COPE THUNDER 85-1”. The deployment ended tragically during the exercise when the HH-53H PAVE LOW (S/N 73-1647) he was flying in, impacted a ridge-line in Crow Valley, near Clark AB, Philippines. The helicopter was flying at night conducting a “TF” mission in a heavy rain squall and crashed with no survivors.

He was survived by his father, Max Ben Lincks Sr., who served as a US Army Private in the Korean war, mother Ruby Reyna Gatlin, sister Tina Marie Lincks, and half brother Benjamin Wayne Gatlin.

He is buried at Gracelawn Cemetery, Section D, in Van Buren, AR.

Died in the crash were:

Major James S. Prowell
Captain Michael W. Skeen
Technical Sergeant Thomas M. Ortiz, Jr
Technical Sergeant Wayne A. Johnson
Staff Sergeant Robert G. Barker
Sergeant Max B. “Paco” Lincks, Jr.

From Bob New:
I remember the first time Paco came into the Gunners section. He introduced himself as “Max Lincks, but I like to be called “Paco”. He became Paco from that point on. In a short time he became an Instructor Gunner. He was the type of guy you could rely on to have your back if there was a need. I think of him and the other gunners often, and the time we spent together flying. In talking to Rich Davis about this time in our lives as gunners. He said “We were family”. Paco was family.

Bob