october august general world war commanded war retiring air_force general manager deputy director president early life career born texas october oldest children wife grew family ranch earned bachelor science degree chemical engineering commissioned second lieutenant field artillery reserve posted texas duty flying cadet february completing flight training field texas course march field california california received reserve commission second lieutenant february posted year group operations intelligence officer october commissioned regular second lieutenant posted 25th bombardment squadron france field panama canal zone world war assistant military air costa_rica guatemala honduras el_salvador panama nicaragua january august executive air officer field office panama canal zone promoted captain february major november lieutenant colonel january month returned united_states chief florida month chief latin american branch service central_america awarded appointed deputy commander based arizona executive officer 16th bombardment operations training wing june promotion colonel july august appointed chief operations training section india burma sector china burma india theater august promoted brigadier general age deputy chief staff november july assistant chief training intelligence service china awarded given british mention despatches commander order british empire awarded legion merit january oak leaf cluster october bronze star medal november ribbon awarded honorary degree cold war returned united_states february assigned joint war plans committee washington senior member october assistant director joint strategic plans group june posted executive military secretary march air_force deputy chief chief major general heart attack forced retire stepped chief rank major general starting practice form joint task force plan conduct series nuclear tests pacific frequent joint chiefs created joint task force permanent body assumed command april june succeeded chief rear admiral remained commander responsible planning preparation conduct operation operation services awarded later life retired air_force replace general manager appointed deputy director years worked ranger surveyor voyager space exploration programs services nasa awarded year returned associate dean engineering engineering research coordinator associate director acting president seven months death served executive vice president years science building campus named honor died san_antonio texas august buried fort sam houston national cemetery san_antonio survived wife son daughters sisters papers library
Alvin Luedecke