was a Georgia Tech football player and engineering student in May 1941 when he sensed the United States was being pulled inexorably into war. So he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, and within half a year he had won his wings, embarking on a three-decade career defending America.
Among the medals he earned were the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross and Bronze Star.
After the Korean War, he commanded air groups at bases in Britain and across the United States, the last one at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.
In his 2 1/2 years in command there, he was credited with improving the inspector general system for investigating complaints, with increasing the cost-effectiveness of base operations and undertaking housing and commissary upgrades that raised morale.
As commander of Andrews, the self-styled "Gateway to the Nation's Capital," he often was called on to greet arriving foreign dignitaries and U.S. leaders, such as President Richard Nixon on his return from his historic visit to China in 1972.
Among the medals he earned were the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross and Bronze Star.
After the Korean War, he commanded air groups at bases in Britain and across the United States, the last one at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.
In his 2 1/2 years in command there, he was credited with improving the inspector general system for investigating complaints, with increasing the cost-effectiveness of base operations and undertaking housing and commissary upgrades that raised morale.
As commander of Andrews, the self-styled "Gateway to the Nation's Capital," he often was called on to greet arriving foreign dignitaries and U.S. leaders, such as President Richard Nixon on his return from his historic visit to China in 1972.
was a Georgia Tech football player and engineering student in May 1941 when he sensed the United States was being pulled inexorably into war. So he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, and within half a year he had won his wings, embarking on a three-decade career defending America.
Among the medals he earned were the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross and Bronze Star.
After the Korean War, he commanded air groups at bases in Britain and across the United States, the last one at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.
In his 2 1/2 years in command there, he was credited with improving the inspector general system for investigating complaints, with increasing the cost-effectiveness of base operations and undertaking housing and commissary upgrades that raised morale.
As commander of Andrews, the self-styled "Gateway to the Nation's Capital," he often was called on to greet arriving foreign dignitaries and U.S. leaders, such as President Richard Nixon on his return from his historic visit to China in 1972.
Among the medals he earned were the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross and Bronze Star.
After the Korean War, he commanded air groups at bases in Britain and across the United States, the last one at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.
In his 2 1/2 years in command there, he was credited with improving the inspector general system for investigating complaints, with increasing the cost-effectiveness of base operations and undertaking housing and commissary upgrades that raised morale.
As commander of Andrews, the self-styled "Gateway to the Nation's Capital," he often was called on to greet arriving foreign dignitaries and U.S. leaders, such as President Richard Nixon on his return from his historic visit to China in 1972.
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