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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Michael S. Rodway

Col. Loren A. Rodway, USAF (Ret.), born September 18, 1943 realized at the age of 13 that he wanted to be a pilot when he saw a bomber fly over the Lincoln County, SD hayfield he was mowing. After graduating from South Dakota State University, he trained in T-41, T-37 and T-38 aircraft, and in 1967 was flying B-52G Bombers for the USAF Strategic Air Command. In 1969, Loren Rodway flew 67 B-52 Bombing missions over North and South Vietnam, then in 1970 was assigned to UH-1 (“HUEY”) and in 1972 to CH-3 (Jolly Green Giant) helicopters. It was in helicopters that he would spend much of his career performing lifesaving work, earning the Sikorsky “Winged S” award for his lifesaving efforts in saving nine Korean fishermen in the South China Sea. Later, his career focused on Special Operations missions using the MH-53 Pave Low helicopter. His assignment to the Pentagon in 1984, while signaling the end of his flying career, focused on Special Operations and Counter-Terrorism, culminating in his position as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Missions and Applications, which he held during the entire period of DESERT STORM. Retiring in 1991, Colonel Rodway had received certifications as a Private Pilot, Commercial Pilot, single- and multi-engine land, rotorcraft, instrument, S-61 Type Rating, and Airline Transport aircraft.