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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Mr. Stephen R. Kohout

Born in Oak Park, IL on May 15, 1930, Richard entered the United States Air Force on August 31, 1951. He graduated Aviation Cadets School as a Radar Intercept Officer with his first operational assignment in F-89's stationed at Hamilton AFB (1952-1954).
He was upgraded to Radar Navigator Bombardier in B-36 aircraft based at Biggs AFB in El Paso, TX from 1954-1959. Here, he met his wife to be Jean Ellen Johnson and married in 1956. While stationed at Biggs, he became a father as Stephen was born in 1958.
As a Radar Navigator Bombardier, Captain Kohout was transferred to Eglin AFB where he began flying in B-52 equipment from 1959-1965. While stationed at the Florida panhandle base, second son James was born in 1961 and daughters Diana in 1962 and Stefanie in 1964.
Orders next carried him to Air Command and Staff College in Montgomery, AL where he and his family resided from 1965-1966.
From 1966-1968, Battle Creek MI was home and where Richard was a Computer Systems Team Leader.
Next was a return to Texas where he was PSC'd to Bergstrom AFB, located near Austin during 1968. Here, Major Kohout trained as a navigator in the RF-4C aircraft in preparation for a tour in Southeast Asia.
Once the year of navigator training was completed, the family was moved to a military housing area located in Sun Prairie WI. Richard was advanced to the rank of Lt. Colonel where orders took him to Southeast Asia - Thailand. As the family stayed behind in Wisconsin, Lt. Col. Kohout flew as a navigator over Vietnam and Laos and successfully completed 113 missions during his one year tour of duty during 1968-1969.
His Air Force career next took him to Beale AFB, one of two locations where the SR-71 was based. From 1969-1971 he was involved with Flight Operation Computer Systems. After a 20 year career serving his country, the decision was made to retire from the USAF effective September 1, 1971.
He returned to the area where he grew up and settled the family in the Chicago IL suburb of Downers Grove. Richard was employed with United Airlines from 1971-1986 where he was a Senior Programmer Analyst. After 15 years of service at United, he and his wife Jean Ellen remained in Downers Grove before returning to the panhandle of Florida in 1990. Here they enjoyed their retirement years and resided in Shalimar Florida. Richard's passions include golf, travel and being a life long Chicago Cubs fan.