Colonel Stanley V. Rush

He was born April 20, 1916 and died June 6, 1980. A graduate of Wink High School in Wink, Texas, he attended Texas Tech University. In 1941 he entered the U. S. Army Air Corps, fulfilling a childhood dream. After graduation from flight school, he was assigned to the Navigational Training School at Mather Field, California. Later, while commanding the navigational training unit at San Marcos, Texas, he completed the navigational training course and received the dual aeronautical rating of Pilot-Navigator. He served in WWII as Chief Pilot of the Central Pacific Wing of the Air Transport Command (West Coast to Australia) then Chief Pilot of the “Purple Project” where he planned and let the first aircraft to land in Japan on August 28, 1945, under truce agreement, to position personnel and supplies for the arrival of General McArthur. In 1946, at his own request, he was released from active duty with the Army Air Corps to enter private business in Conroe, Texas. He had advanced from aviation cadet to Lt. Colonel in 5 years. When the Korean conflict broke out, he volunteered for combat duty and within 3 months was made the squadron commander of a B-26 “Night Intruder” unit flying over 60 missions and over 250 hours of combat time. As part of the Air Force Reserve, he flew missions in support of the Dominican Republic Crisis and Viet Nam. Then, Colonel Rush retired with over 30 years commissioned service. During his career, he logged over 6,000 hours of military flying having flown the majority of the U. S. Air Force’s various aircraft. His military decorations include the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross (w/ cluster), the Bronze Star, the Air Medal (w/ 4 clusters), the Air Force Commendation Medal, The Presidential Unit citation (w/ cluster) and several others. He was the first Air Force Reserve Officer to receive an official citation from U.S. Congress and the House of Representatives for “outstanding services both as a military and civilian leader.” He was a loving husband, father of 5, and a proud veteran aviator.