 Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Harry C. "Heinie" Aderholt passed away May 20, 2010, at his home, surrounded by family, loyal friends and his devoted caregiver, Jamie Newman.
He was born on Jan. 6, 1920, in Birmingham, Ala., to Forest Aderholt and Katie Banholzer and was preceded in death by his loving wife of 56 years, Jessie; brothers, Roy Aderholt and Robert Aderholt; and sister, Cornelia Akin.
He is survived by his wife, Anne; daughter, Janet Lynn Elliott and husband Chaplin Col. (Ret.) Richard G. Elliott Jr. of Panama City, Fla.; son, George Aderholt and wife Pat of Navarre, Fla.; one sister, Katherine McDaniel of Trussville, Ala.; two brothers, Warren Aderholt and his wife Bunny of Marietta, Ga., and Louis Aderholt of Huntsville, Ala.; grandchildren, Kevin Richard Elliott and wife Kathy Anderson Elliott, Stacie Lynn Elliott, Kellie Marie Elliott and Mark Randall Elliott; great-granddaughter, Annie Lynn Elliott; and several nieces and nephews.
Heinie was one of seven children raised by his widowed mother (his father died, as a result of an accident, when Heinie was just a boy of nine), and he learned very early in life many lessons that would shape his future. Undoubtedly, his mother's influence from her strength, courage, love and strict discipline, provided him with the solid foundation that helped him to grow and develop into the remarkable man he became.
Heinie's love of people was obvious and his sincerity and straight forward, up-front approach encouraged the development of many life-long friendships. None more enduring than the bond of love, loyalty and mutual respect that he shared with Maj. Gen. Richard Secord.
We wish to thank his faithful friend, Joseph Caruth, who enabled him to continue his early morning ritual of working out at Aderholt Fitness Center.
Until his final days he remained close to his brothers and sister and their families. As recently as late January, he made a trip to Bir-mingham, on to Huntsville, then to Atlanta, assuring all he would be back soon.
Gen. Aderholt's 30-plus year military career is legendary. His status as a leader, his many accomplishments, awards and citations will be recorded in the annals of military history.
His innumerable friends will remember him as a man of integrity with a loving heart who inspired and touched so many lives.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in memory of Gen. Aderholt be made to the McCoskrie Threshold Foundation, P.O. Box 67, Mary Esther, FL 32569, to support projects in Thailand and Laos.
A special thank you to the staff at Davis-Watkins Funeral Home.
A memorial service will be held at Hurlburt Air Park on July 2 at 9 a.m.
Brig. Gen. Heinie Aderholt, ‘Air Commando One,’ dies at 90
Brig. Gen. Heinie Aderholt, credited with being a driving force behind the formation the Air Force Special Operations Command at Hurlburt Field, has died at the age of 90.
“He died like a soldier,” said old friend Paco Rabell. “He died facing the sun.”
Rabell said he spent several days in vigil with Aderholt and his family, and that the general died peacefully about 5 a.m. Thursday. His wife, Anne, and two nieces were present, Rabell said.
“His love and treatment of his fellow man made him the most honorable and decent human being I’ve ever known,” said Anne Aderholt. “I am the luckiest girl in the world to have known him.”
Aderholt, known as “Air Commando One” by friends and those who served with him, worked through the CIA and the Air Force to form what was originally known as the First Air Commando Wing.
In the 1960s, he conceived and directed a unit of Air Commandos who waged an unconventional war against the North Vietnamese. It often was fought from locations in Laos, where United States leaders denied soldiers were deployed.
“He’s probably one of the greatest leaders of unconventional warfare,” said Chuck Keeler, current president of the Air Commando Association.
In October 1973, nearly a year after retiring as a colonel, Aderholt was recalled to active duty and promoted to brigadier general. His job was to negotiate the withdrawal of American troops from Vietnam, said close friend Dick Geron.
“It was a very important job, and it had to be done diplomatically. He was the person called in to do it,” Geron said. “It was a very complicated job, and he made it look easy.”
Aderholt was the last general officer to leave Vietnam, Geron said.
Aderholt was loved and appreciated for his leadership style and personality. He wrote a book, “Air Commando One,” in which he chronicled his experiences in “America’s Secret Air Wars.”
He received the prestigious Bull Simons Award that recognizes those “who embody the true spirit, values and skills of a special operations warrior,” according to a website.
Non-commissioned officers at AFSOC also honored Aderholt by inducting him into the Order of the Sword.
He became only the third man to be so honored, and was called a “leader among leaders” in Air Force history.
When he received the Order of the Sword, Mike Reynolds, an AFSOC chief master sergeant, called Aderholt “a true warrior, outstanding leader, and compassionate friend of the enlisted corps.”
Contacted Thursday, the now retired Reynolds called Aderholt “the epitome of an officer.”
“This is a sad day for the Air Force and for American history,” he said. “He was truly an American hero.”
The general also received the Order of the White Elephant award from the nation of Thailand. It is that country’s highest distinction.
Aderholt remained active after his retirement. One of his greatest aspirations was to help rectify what he believed to be American disservice to the native people of Southeastern Asia who helped his men during Vietnam.
Aderholt believed the American government had reneged on promises made to Asian tribes such as the Hmong. He organized drives to collect clothing and other necessities to send to them.
Aderholt began his military career in World War II. He flew combat missions as a pilot in North Africa and Italy.
According to a brief biography compiled by friends, Aderholt spent much of the Korean conflict running night missions behind enemy lines. After Korea, he worked in support of CIA undercover operations.
During the Vietnam War, he was given the command of the 56th Air Commando Wing at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand.
The wing’s low-level nighttime missions were successful in stifling North Vietnamese movements along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, the biography said.
Aderholt was stationed briefly at Eglin Air Force Base in the 1960s, the biography said. He returned to Thailand shortly before his first retirement.
Geron, a major under Aderholt, said much of his friend’s success as an officer stemmed from his knowledge of people.
“He understood people,” he said. “He got the job done and got everybody enjoying it at the same time.”
Geron said Aderholt’s influence is obvious to anyone who knows anything about his career. He said he hopes his legacy isn’t forgotten.
“I certainly hope the people in this area will honor him in the way and fashion he deserves,” Geron said. |
Our President, Chuck Keeler, sustained a massive cerebral stroke on Saturday, May 29, during our monthly Air Commando meeting. Owing to the quick thinking of our attending board members, 911 was called and he was given initial life saving procedures and then transported to Ft. Walton Beach Medical Center emergency room and then on to ICU.
Gen Norton Schwartz receiving a gold ACA bush hat from Chuck Keeler and Hap Lutz during the reunion banquet. The engraving reads: In appreciation to General Norton A. “Norty” Schwartz Chief of Staff United States Air Force, Air Commando Association Life Member, Air Commando Hall of Fame Inducted - 1997, Featured Speaker 2009 ACA Reunion “Celebrating the 65th Anniversary of the First Air Commando Group Leading to Today’s Air Force Special Operations”
A truly spectacular reunion thanks to the efforts of the volunteers, the presence of the WWII air commandos, support from the 1st SOW, and the extraordinary turnout to welcome our speaker, General Schwartz, Chief of Staff, USAF, and Mrs. Schwartz.
On Saturday night, the Soundside Club was full with 361 folks attending the banquet. The buzz during the cocktail hour was contagious as General Schwartz greeted old friends, spoke with young airmen and ROTC students, and welcomed MG General Alison and his band of WWII warriors. This was the largest turnout for a reunion in a long time - many stars, stripes, and cheerful air commandos.