James Michael Basta

BASTA, James Michael (LTC Ret.), 72, a Tampa Resident for over 30 years passed away on Tuesday, April 24. James graduated from the University of Scranton in 1961 and entered the Army through the ROTC program in which he was a distinguished military graduate and commissioned a Second Lieutenant. He retired as a Lt. Colonel after 24 years of active military service which included tours of duty in Germany, Taiwan, and three years in Vietnam during the war where he flew both fixed wing and helicopter aircraft. He was awarded numerous medals including the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, and Army Commendation Medal. James is a member of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association of Florida (VHPAF). He pulled their static display helicopter to events all over the state including numerous veterans’ functions, parades, and schools educating the public and especially children on aviation and the Vietnam War. He is predeceased by his parents, Michael and Mary Gallia Basta, and a brother, Joseph, of Old Forge, PA. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, the former Marie Honcharik his high school sweetheart, and his four children, James, Robert, Michalene Yoder and Christine Rooth; nine grandchildren, Briana, Aaron, and Benjamin Basta; William, Jennifer, and Rachel Yoder; and Joseph, Madison and Michael Rooth. A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday at St. Timothy Catholic Church. The interment will be at the Florida National Cemetery at 2:00 p.m. The family will receive friends on Thursday evening from 6 to 8 pm at St. Timothy Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to VHPAF at Veterans Memorial Park, 3602 US Hwy. 301 N., Tampa, FL 33619 or St. Timothy Catholic Church Youth Building Fund, 17512 Lakeshore Rd., Lutz, FL 33558.