Hoyt S. Vandenberg Jr.
From USAFA Folklore
| Hoyt S. Vandenberg Jr. | |
|---|---|
| 1928 - | |
| USAFA position(s): | Commandant, 1973-75 Vice Comm. 1972-73 |
| Rank: | Maj. Gen. |
| Nickname(s): | |
| Awards and Recognition: | |
| USAFA Class: | |
| Cadet squadron: | |
| Cadet Activities: | |
| Official bio: | http://www.af.mil/bios/bio.asp?bioID=7456 |
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Maj. Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg Jr. was the eighth Commandant of Cadets, serving in that position from 1973 to 1975.
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[edit] Accounts from his time as Comm
- Brig Gen Hoyt S. Vandenberg, Jr. - recent promotion to one-star and terror of the Terrazzo. He went skiing one weekend with his aide, Capt. Chip Steel(e) (didn't Jethro Bodine use that name in his movie career?). Capt Steele adjusted Hoyt's bindings a mite too tight, with a resulting broken ankle for the Comm. (Many boo-hoos in the Wing, oh yes...) Hoyt sets precedent by cruising the Terrazzo in a golf cart driven by good ol' Chip. I happened to be walking out there when Chip takes a corner too tightly, and flings Hoyt, cast and all, off the cart and into the slush. I retired quickly so as not to incur wrath of the humiliated. True story. Quatermass '76
- On another occasion, Hoyt was lecturing our squadron (CS-15) about how to strafe the enemy if he ejected and was hanging in a chute. He looked up and stared at one of our Firsties. Hoyt looked surprised and asked, "Mister, are you wearing a wig?" (The Firstie's hair was very wavy and had a bit of a shelf over his forehead.)
He walked over to him, pinched a hank of the Firstie's hair and gave it a good YANK. Of course the Firstie yelped and stood up. Hoyt stared at him and said, "Get something done about that hair, mister. It's not professional." Quatermass '76
- This is a fucking great story, told to me by my English professor, a LtCol my Junior year (95-96). I'm not sure what class he was in, but it was right after Sijan Hall was built, and he was a two degree at the time, probably placing him in '75. According to the story, he had a contest with his roomate about who could grow out their hair the longest over the course of a semester without getting caught. Now factor the Comm into the picture--General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, Jr.-- who apparently was pretty gung-ho about having a building named after his dad, and was a sort of George Patton type of character. During a Noon Meal Formation, the general was standing out on the Terrazzo over by the library, watching the formation. During the "eyes right" the roomate's service hat goes flying off his head, and his bangs fall down to his chin. The comm's face twists in rage, and he points his finger at the guy, yelling, "You...cadet...come here, NOW!" The guy looks at the now extremely pissed off comm, and says, "FUCK THAT." (Either out loud or to himself). With that, he starts hauling ass across the Terrazzo. The Comm, not to be outdone, takes off across the Terrazzo after this guy, and follows him into Sijan Hall. The cadet, having beat the old man by a few furlongs, had made his way into a stall in one of the bathrooms and stood on top of the shitter with the door latched shut. He hears the Comm come into the bathroom, pace by, only to turn around and Bruce Lee kick the door open, with a loud, "You're screwed, Mister." or something to the effect. The guy's punishment was supposedly only a Class A hit, if any at all. The comm told his AOC, "I respect a Cadet with the balls to try a trick like that." Unfortunately, the entire squadron also supposedly got the hairdo of choice for brand new basics. - (e-mail, 10-12-1999)
[edit] Bio
[edit] Background and education
General Vandenberg was born in 1928, in Riverside, Calif. He graduated from Western High School, Washington, D.C., in 1946, and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., in June 1951, with a commission as a second lieutenant and a bachelor of science degree. He earned a master of science degree in international relations at The George Washington University in 1969. He is also a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College and the National War College. General Vandenberg's father was General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, chief of staff of the Air Force from April 1948 to June 1953.
[edit] Military assignments
After graduating from the academy, General Vandenberg attended pilot training at Hondo Field, Texas; Williams Air Force Base, Ariz.; and Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., culminating in his completion of F-86 combat crew training.
In November 1953 General Vandenberg was assigned to the 86th Fighter-Bomber Wing in Germany as a fighter pilot and flight commander. In January 1957 he served as flight commander with the 413th and 31st Tactical Fighter Wings at George Air Force Base, Calif. He completed Air Command and Staff College in June 1961.
General Vandenberg continued to fly tactical fighters and next was assigned to the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. He returned to Germany in September 1963 and served successively as operations officer with the 23rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, commander of the 36th Organizational Maintenance Squadron and commander of the 53rd Tactical Fighter Squadron.
In October 1966 General Vandenberg went to Southeast Asia, where he commanded the 390th "Blue Boars" Tactical Fighter Squadron at Da Nang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam. He completed 100 missions over North Vietnam.
He returned to the United States in June 1967 and was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., in the Office of the Director of Plans as a plans and programs officer. He entered the National War College in August 1968 and earned his master of science degree. After graduation in August 1969, he returned to the Pentagon for duty with the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In January 1971 he become commander of the 12th Flying Training Wing at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. The 12th Flying Wing's mission was to train all the instructor pilots for the Air Training Command, as well as manage the Air Force Instrument Flight Center.
General Vandenberg was appointed vice commandant of cadets, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., in August 1972. In February 1973 he assumed duties as commandant of cadets until his departure in August 1975.
General Vandenberg served as chief, Armish Military Assistance Advisory Group in Tehran, Iran, until January 1976. He then was assigned to the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations at Headquarters U.S. Air Force, where he served as deputy director of plans until August 1976, and as director of operations and readiness until July 1978 when he became assistant deputy chief of staff for operations, plans and readiness. He assumed the position of vice commander in chief, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, on March 18, 1979 and retired Jan. 1, 1981.
He is a command pilot with more than 5,000 hours of flying time in the F-80, F-86, F-105, F-4 and operational training flying time accomplished in the T-33, T-37, T-38 and CT-39.
[edit] Awards and decorations
General Vandenberg's military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal with 11 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation emblem, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award ribbon, Combat Readiness Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation and Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge.
| Commandant of Cadets | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: Walter T. Galligan | Hoyt S. Vandenberg Jr. 1973-1975 | Succeeded by: Stanley C. Beck |
| Commandants |
|---|
| Stillman · Sullivan · Seawell · Strong · Seith · Olds · Galligan · Vandenberg · Beck · Richards · Beckel · Burshnick · Anderson · Westbrook · Redden · Bethurem · Gamble · Hopper · Lorenz · Welsh · Gilbert · Weida · Desjardins · Cox |
