Jerry Autry grew up in Dunn North Carolina, the youngest of five boys, four of whom served in World War II or Korea. After graduating from school, he determined to become a minister, but military service was also in his plans. Ordained a Congregationalist minister, newly married, and just out of seminary, he enlisted for military service and was commissioned a U.S. Army chaplain. After airborne training, he was deployed to Vietnam where he was a highly-decorated chaplain in the 101st Airborne Division. Following his combat tour he remained in service with postings in Germany, Korea, and many stateside posts, and retired as a colonel after 29 years of military service and ministry. He then pastored the Congregational Church in Rio Vista, California, for eight years.



