Few people who read this have ever heard of Air Force Brigadier General Harry C. Aderholt. He was one of the pioneers in AF Special Operations. He fought and flew combat missions in WWII, Korea, and Viet Nam. He was my Wing Commander in 1967. I was a lowly airman, a munitions specialist with the 56th Air Commando Wing (later called Special Operations Wing). Col Aderholt would come down to the bomb dump where we would be busy preparing various air munitions for the night's missions over the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos. Col Aderholt, dressed in his all black flight suit, would come and chat with us and encourage us. He would even sometimes show us films of our munitions in action on the trail. He made us proud to be Air Commandos and inspired us to do our very best.He wanted us to know that our careful work mattered in the war effort. He encouraged us to volunteer for air missions like flare kickers or gunners. Our airplanes were all propeller planes, like A-26 bombers, A1E Skyraiders, T-28s, O-1 and O-2 Observation planes, C-47s, C-123s, C-130s, and the big Jolly Green Giant helicopters. And most of us did volunteer for those missions. He believed in cross training. He was the most inspiring combat leader I ever met. He was still flying combat missions at age 47 or 48.

Harry died on Thursday, May 20, 2010 at the age of 90. I salute him. He made me proud to be in AF Special Operations. In a strange coincidence, on that same day I learned that my daughter is being assigned to an AF Special Operations unit overseas. The tradition continues.

We all see celebrities honored on TV when they die. Most of them never did as much for our nation as "Heinie" Aderholt did. I figured I owed him that post. While it may sound funny, he being such a warrior and all, he was a loving and kind man to all who knew him. While I only saw him a few times, I will never forget him. I'm sure he never remembered me or the thousands he commanded over the years. But we all remember him. In all my later years of service in the Air Force and Army, no other leader impressed me as much.

Congrats on your daughter's assignment. I live a few miles from Hurlburt Field and love seeing how it has grown everytime I visit.

Primary Weapon Systems: AC-130H, AC-130U, MC-130E/H, MH-53J/M, MC-130P.

Mission: The 16th Special Operations Wing's mission is to organize, train and equip Air Force special operations forces for global employment. The wing focuses on unconventional warfare, including counterinsurgency and psychological operations during low-intensity conflicts.

History: The 1st SOW was redesignated the 16th SOW on October 1, 1993 as part of the Air Force-wide wing redesignation. Its mission, to provide a rapid reaction force for global special operations and to train aircrews to instruct and assist allied forces in all phases of special air operations, has not changed. Hurlburt Field is proud of its history and it stands ready to perform its unique mission "Any Time, Any Place."

God bless him and congratulations on your daughter, Vic.

One of the very few I expect who fought so frequently in so many conflicts and survived .... he must have been a great leader and a formidable pilot ....
nice post Vic .... as they say .... "lest they be forgotton" .... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

And good luck to your daughter on her new assignment ...

I told Bonnie about General Aderholt. She still has a few months more specialized training before she goes overseas as an ISR specialist. She was thrilled that she got Special Ops. I am very proud of her. I told her to look up the history of AF special operations and learn about the warrior legacy she will step into.

Thank You H.D.

May God speed his soul home and bring joy through the tears of his loved ones.

Nice post HD! I appreciate it. I saw many missions "come back" while I was stationed at Pope, and you NEVER asked. You just watched the "civilians" deplane. Thanks for the history of this great warrior. I have found that many of the TRUE warriors are really gentle people at heart but take their mission seriously, as it should be. He Will be missed and now he can relax with all his fellow commrads in arms.

Nice tribute Vic, and congratulations to Bonnie as well! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Kudos on daughter Vic- great story <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />