Tony Thurmond: “In the year that the Nation celebrates the 50th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Air Force, we must pause today…”

“In the year that the Nation celebrates the 50th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Air Force, we must pause today to mourn the passing of an individual who was one of the key figures in the history of that service, Gen. Robert E. "Dutch" Huyser. For almost 40 years, Dutch Huyser helped to protect America through airpower. Drafted into the Army during World War II, he became a B-29 pilot and flew numerous missions in the Pacific in support of Allied efforts to defeat Imperialism. Following the war, when the Air Force was established as a separate military service, he became a bright and promising young officer who would help to shape cold war policy and become known as the father of the program which eventually yielded the C-17 Globemaster aircraft. Before he would reach the highest echelons of the Air Force though, Dutch Huyser still had a lot of flying to do, and he found himself in the cockpits of B-29's over Korea and B-52's in Vietnam when the United States became embroiled in conflicts in those nations. Throughout his career, Dutch Huyser established an impressive record of awards, citations, and medals that is far too extensive to cite here. Suffice it to say, he set an excellent example for devotion, patriotism, and professionalism for all Air Force officers to follow, and I am confident that he served as an important role model for many of his subordinates throughout his career.”