Obituary from Holman Funeral Home of Ozark – Ozark, Alabama
Major Joseph Warsh Oatson, Jr. (United States Army), a resident of Ozark, passed away, Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in Dale Medical Center. He was 83 years old.
In keeping with the wishes of the family, there are no public services planned for Major Oatson. Holman Funeral Home of Ozark has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Major Oatson was born January 28, 1943, in Louisville, Kentucky to the late Joseph Warsh Oatson, Sr. and Mishie Hilton Oatson. He was a 1962 graduate of DeSales High School in Louisville, Kentucky. Following high school, he received his Bachelors Degree in History from Eastern Kentucky University. This degree allowed Joe to begin his career in the United States Army as an officer. His basic training was in Fort Benning, Georgia and later he was shipped out to Vietnam. While in country, the Army was in desperate need of helicopter pilots. Joe returned to Fort Rucker where he learned to fly the UH1 Huey helicopter. Following his flight training, Joe returned to Vietnam to fly dust-off missions. He received two Purple Hearts during his time of service there. Joe was one of the first Cobra helicopter pilots in Vietnam. Bruce Randall was his mentor and one of the founders of the Medical EVAC. They were modern-day commandos. A book was written about his group called “Snake Driver/Cobras in Vietnam”. He was among the first SOG (Studies Observation Group) and also part of the 1st Calvary Division, United States Army in Vietnam. Joe was a warrior, a patriot and a hero.
Following his military service, he worked in several jobs including CSX Railroad in Baltimore, Maryland and settled with Bell Helicopter in Ozark. Joe was a Christian who taught Sunday School and loved to witness for Jesus. Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Rebecca Anne Steilberg Oatson of Ozark; one son, Marcos Miranda (Jenny Hall) and one grandson, Michael Miranda, all of Pembroke Pines, Florida.
