This is a photo of a veteran of three wars. During WWII he flew bomber cover as a P-38 pilot. Atfer WWII and before the Korean War he went to helicopter school and learned to fly helicopters so during the Korean War he flew helicopter rescue missions. He had logged 3120 hours total flying time, 511 hours combat flying time, and 785 hours helicopter flying time. He passed on in 2011 at the age of 92. He is my uncle and I am thankful for his many years of service and since I cannot place him under the Rememberance profiles since he was not a sailor this is a way to honor him.
Chester E. Eckerman - Colonel, Retired USAF, veteran of World War II, Korean War, & Vietnam War. He flew 56 combat missions in World War II, 97 helicopter rescue missions in Korea, and was in country 361 days in Vietnam. He began his career in 1942 when it was the Army Air Corps as a private and retired in 1975 after 33 years of service as a Colonel. Recipient of Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Metal, Vietnam Service with 3 Campaign Stars, Republic of Korea Metal, Meritorius Service Metal, Presidential Unit Citation with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, American Campaign Metal, National Defense Service Metal, USAF Longevity Service Award with 4 Bronze Stars, United Nations Service Metal, Air Medal with 11 Oak Leaf Clusters, USAF Outstanding Unit Award with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, European-African Mid-East Campaign with 4 Battle Stars, Korean Service with 3 Battle Stars, Armed Forces Reserve Metal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Metal. He is my Uncle and I salute him.
