Theodore R. Milton
Encyclopedia
General Theodore Ross Milton (December 29, 1915 – August 24, 2010) was born at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, in 1915. He enlisted in the Regular Army in 1934 and subsequently entered the United States Military Academy
, graduating in 1940. Following graduation, he entered United States Army Air Corps
flying training and earned his pilot wings in March 1941.
From 1943 to the end of hostilities in Europe, he served in B-17 aircraft with the Eighth Air Force
in England.
He returned to the United States in 1945, and remained until 1948 when he was reassigned to Europe as chief of staff for the Combined Airlift Task Force, the command that directed operations for the Berlin Airlift.
Between 1949-1957, he was assigned to the Military Air Transport Service
for two years as director of operations; attended Air War College
; and served three years as executive assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force.
He was promoted to brigadier general in October 1957, and was named commander, 41st Air Division, Fifth Air Force
, Japan, a tactical fighter-bomber command.
In 1961 he was promoted to major general and reassigned to Clark Air Base
in the Philippines as commander, Thirteenth Air Force
, the parent command to all United States air bases in Southeast Asia.
Milton commanded Thirteenth Air Force until 1963, at which time he was selected as deputy chief of staff, plans and operations, to the commander-in-chief Pacific
, with headquarters at Camp H. M. Smith
, Hawaii.
He returned to the continental United States in 1965, and served for the next 18 months as chief of staff, Tactical Air Command
, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. In February 1967 he was promoted to lieutenant general and assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force as inspector general, a position he held until August 1967 when he was named comptroller of the Air Force.
In March 1969 Milton assumed duties at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, as the deputy chairman, NATO Military Committee.
Milton assumed duties as the United States Representative to the NATO Military Committee on August 1, 1971. He was promoted to the grade of general effective August 1, 1971, with date of rank July 31, 1971.
His military decorations and awards included the Distinguished Service Cross
, Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
, Silver Star
, Legion of Merit
with two oak leaf cluster
s, Distinguished Flying Cross
with three oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star Medal
, Air Medal
with four oak leaf cluster, Purple Heart
, Honorary Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
, British Distinguished Flying Cross
, French Croix de Guerre with palm and various World War II campaign medals.
Milton retired retired from the Air Force on July 31, 1974. He died of a stroke on August 24, 2010. The Secretary of the Air Force authorized the U.S. flag to be flown at half staff on January 21, 2011, the day of his interment at Arlington National Cemetery
.
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
, graduating in 1940. Following graduation, he entered United States Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
flying training and earned his pilot wings in March 1941.
From 1943 to the end of hostilities in Europe, he served in B-17 aircraft with the Eighth Air Force
Eighth Air Force
The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
in England.
He returned to the United States in 1945, and remained until 1948 when he was reassigned to Europe as chief of staff for the Combined Airlift Task Force, the command that directed operations for the Berlin Airlift.
Between 1949-1957, he was assigned to the Military Air Transport Service
Military Air Transport Service
The Military Air Transport Service is an inactive Department of Defense Unified Command. Activated on 1 June 1948, MATS was a consolidation of the United States Navy Naval Air Transport Service and the United States Air Force Air Transport Command into a single, joint, unified command...
for two years as director of operations; attended Air War College
Air War College
The Air War College is a part of the United States Air Force's Air University, headquartered at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. Air University's higher headquarters is Air Education and Training Command headquartered at Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The Air War...
; and served three years as executive assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force.
He was promoted to brigadier general in October 1957, and was named commander, 41st Air Division, Fifth Air Force
Fifth Air Force
The Fifth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan....
, Japan, a tactical fighter-bomber command.
In 1961 he was promoted to major general and reassigned to Clark Air Base
Clark Air Base
Clark Air Base is a former United States Air Force base on Luzon Island in the Philippines, located 3 miles west of Angeles City, about 40 miles northwest of Metro Manila. Clark Air Base was an American military facility from 1903 to 1991...
in the Philippines as commander, Thirteenth Air Force
Thirteenth Air Force
The Thirteenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Hickam Air Force Base on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. 13 AF has never been stationed in the continental United States...
, the parent command to all United States air bases in Southeast Asia.
Milton commanded Thirteenth Air Force until 1963, at which time he was selected as deputy chief of staff, plans and operations, to the commander-in-chief Pacific
United States Pacific Command
The United States Pacific Command is a Unified Combatant Command of the United States armed forces responsible for the Pacific Ocean area. It is led by the Commander, Pacific Command , who is the supreme military authority for the various branches of the Armed Forces of the United States serving...
, with headquarters at Camp H. M. Smith
Camp H. M. Smith
Camp H. M. Smith is a United States Marine Corps installation in the Hawaiian town of Aiea on the island of Oahu, near the community of Halawa Heights...
, Hawaii.
He returned to the continental United States in 1965, and served for the next 18 months as chief of staff, Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. In February 1967 he was promoted to lieutenant general and assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force as inspector general, a position he held until August 1967 when he was named comptroller of the Air Force.
In March 1969 Milton assumed duties at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, as the deputy chairman, NATO Military Committee.
Milton assumed duties as the United States Representative to the NATO Military Committee on August 1, 1971. He was promoted to the grade of general effective August 1, 1971, with date of rank July 31, 1971.
His military decorations and awards included the Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
, Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal was created by an act of the United States Congress on July 6, 1960. The medal was intended as a new decoration of the United States Air Force to replace the policy of awarding the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Air Force personnel.The Air Force...
, Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
, Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with two oak leaf cluster
Oak leaf cluster
An oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on U.S. Army and Air Force awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. The number of oak leaf clusters typically indicates the number of subsequent awards of the decoration...
s, Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
with three oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
, Air Medal
Air Medal
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
with four oak leaf cluster, Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
, Honorary Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, British Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
, French Croix de Guerre with palm and various World War II campaign medals.
Milton retired retired from the Air Force on July 31, 1974. He died of a stroke on August 24, 2010. The Secretary of the Air Force authorized the U.S. flag to be flown at half staff on January 21, 2011, the day of his interment at Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.