Dewayne Lee Treadaway

Retired US Army CW3 Dewayne Lee Treadaway, a resident of Enterprise, Alabama, died peacefully at home on June 5, 2021, surrounded by loving family members. He was 62 years old.

Mr. Treadaway was born and raised in Oconee and Anderson counties of South Carolina. Much of his childhood was spent on a farm with livestock and crops. A graduate of Crescent High School, Dewayne was a member of FFA and lovingly known by his classmates as “Peewee” because of small size. He was a lifelong hunting enthusiast and expert marksman. He enjoyed skeet shooting and even participated in competitions while stationed in Germany.

Mr. Treadaway enlisted in the US Army in 1978. He was one of the first members of the 160th Special Operations unit at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. Because of his technical expertise he was chosen for the Blackhawk Fielding Team to Germany. In Germany, he was in the 421st Medevac Unit where he met his wife of 35 years, SSG Mary Treadaway; she was a flight medic in the same unit. After returning the states he joined the Kentucky National Guard and went to flight school at “Mother Rucker.” He received an Air Medal for his “undaunted courage and absolute perseverance” during Operation Just Cause in Panama. He was a proud member of the 101st Airborne Division and served in Desert Storm alongside his brothers who named themselves the “Warlords.” It was in Desert Storm where he and his crew members survived a helicopter crash because of his quick and skilled actions. After recovery he immediately returned to his passion of flying. He received a Joint Services Commendation Medal for his service in Korea. Dewayne received a Meritorious Service Medal at Ft. Bragg, NC for his “tactical and technical expertise, unyielding enthusiasm, and arduous work ethic.” He also served in Honduras and culminated his military career at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. Upon retirement Mr. Treadaway was awarded the Legion of Merit for his exceptional lifetime service in “positions of increasing responsibility culminating as Maintenance Test Pilot Supervisor.” After retirement he continued his aviation career at Ft. Rucker and overseas with contract work in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Afghanistan.

Dewayne is remembered by his friends, colleagues, and brother/sisters in service as always having a smile and being a positive spirit even in some of the worst conditions and locations. His dedication to safety and security made him the “go to” guy and “an absolute pleasure to fly with.” His family will always remember him as baby brother, coolest dad ever, lifelong soulmate, and overall true bad ass.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 12, 2021, at Sorrells Funeral Home in Enterprise. Burial will follow at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday, June 11, 2021, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in Dewayne's memory to: National Desert Storm War Memorial Association, http://www.ndswm.org/donate/.

Dewayne was born April 24, 1959, in South Carolina. He is preceded in death by his mother, Mildred Hendrick Treadaway, his brother, Michael Treadaway; and his fallen brothers/sisters in service.

Survivors include his wife of 35 years, Mary Treadaway; father, Leo Treadaway; children, Matthew Stoll (Julie) of Maryland, Heather Treadaway of Virginia and Richard Treadaway of Georgia; sisters, Delores Whitmire (Ray), Sharon Treadaway and Karen Treadaway (Randy) all of South Carolina; and grandchildren, Mary Claire, Jackson Matthew and Lucille Jean. Sorrells Funeral Home and Crematory of Enterprise is in charge of arrangements.

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