Gen Chuck Yeager

Charles E. “Chuck” Yeager, American hero and the most righteous of The Right Stuff, is one of the greatest aviators that ever lived. His commitment to service, duty, courage, and love of his country and its flag are evident in all that he did during active duty and beyond. He was and continues to be a great inspiration and role model to people the world over.

Born in Hamlin, West Virginia, on February 13, 1923, Yeager enlisted in the Army Air Corps in September 1941 at the age of eighteen. In July 1942 he was accepted for pilot training under the flying sergeant program. He received his pilot wings and appointment as a flight officer in March 1943.

During World War II, with his excellent eyesight and hand-eye coordination, Yeager distinguished himself in aerial combat over France and Germany by shooting down thirteen enemy aircraft. On March 5, 1944, he was shot down over German-occupied France but evaded capture when the French Underground hid him. With the help of the Maquis, the French resistance movement, Yeager escaped over the Pyrenees carrying a wounded airman.

When Yeager returned to England, he was ordered home. He refused and fought this all the way to General Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander, who said, “I don’t normally see guys like you, but I am curious. I’ve got people shooting themselves in the foot to go home; what is the matter with you?”

Yeager said, “I haven’t done my job.”

Ultimately, after D-Day, Yeager was allowed back on combat, achieved “ace in a day” status, and shot down one of Germany’s first jets from his P-51, a prop plane.

Following the end of WWII, Yeager married Glennis Dickhouse in 1945. They had four children and were married until her passing in 1990.

In 1947, Yeager was selected to fly the X-1 and attempt to break the sound barrier, which he achieved on October 14, 1947 at a speed of 1.05 Mach. He later alternated between fighter squadrons and test squadrons. From 1961 to 1966, he trained the early astronauts. Then, from 1966 to 1973, he commanded fighter wings in Vietnam, Germany, South Korea, and Pakistan.

Yeager retired from active military duty in 1975 but continued to consult for the Air Force, flying most of their airplanes. He also worked on various movies, created a computer game, wrote two books, and more. His Yeager: An Autobiography sold over 1.2 million copies. The movie The Right Stuff was in part based on his personal story.

The numerous military decorations and awards General Yeager received include the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star Medal with “V” device, Air Medal with ten oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Purple Heart, Distinguished Unit Citation Emblem with oak leaf cluster, and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon. He was a command pilot and flew more than 12,000 hours in 361 different makes and models of military aircraft.

By special act of Congress (making it one of the rare true Congressional Medals of Honor), General Yeager was awarded the Special Silver Congressional Medal of Honor (essentially a peacetime Medal of Honor) in 1976.

US President Ronald Reagan presented General Chuck Yeager with the highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in 1985, while in 2003, France awarded General Yeager the Legion of Honor as an Officer, the highest award for a non-citizen. Congress also awarded General Yeager, as a World War II fighter ace, the Gold Congressional Medal Honor.

Chuck Yeager met Victoria in 2000. They married in 2003 and he taught her how to fly, hunt, and fish, among other things.

The truth is that General Chuck Yeager was a great man in private as well as in public. America and the world over will cherish always the memory, the service, and the example of General Chuck Yeager.

c. GCYI