Rohr, Davis C.

I was born in Burlington, WI, and graduated from Burlington High School before attending Northwestern University, Evanston, IL. I then attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY, graduating in 1952. After receiving my commission, I entered pilot training at Marana, AZ and received my pilot wings in August 1953 after completing training at San Marcos and James Connally Air Force Bases, TX.

I attended the Day-Fighter Gunnery School at Nellis Air Force Base, NV before departing for South Korea in January 1954 and serving with the 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing, flying F-86F’s.  In July 1954 I transferred to Misawa Air Base, Japan, and in September 1955 was assigned stateside to the Air Defense Command for duty as a flight commander flying F-86D’s and F-102s at Youngstown Municipal Airport, OH.

In June 1958 I entered graduate school at the University of Washington. After graduation in June 1960 with a degree in Russian Affairs, I was assigned to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado, in the history department, teaching military history and was in charge of the academy’s Russian history course.

Following a check-out in the F-100 Supersabre in late 1964, I was assigned to the 50th Tactical Fighter Wing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, arriving in January 1965. While there I served as an assistant operations officer and then operations officer with the 417th Tactical Fighter Squadron. I continued as squadron operations officer when the unit transferred to Mountain Home Air Force Base, ID, in August 1968. I joined the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing at Tuy Hoa Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, in August 1969 & in October took command of the 306th Tactical Fighter Squadron. I flew 245 combat missions as an F-100 pilot while in Southeast Asia.

From August 1970 to September 1973, I was assigned to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, International Security Affairs, as Country Director for South America. While at the Pentagon, I completed the Industrial College of the Armed Forces by correspondence. I then moved to Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, VA, serving first as executive officer to the deputy chief of staff, logistics, and later as deputy director of maintenance engineering. In July 1975, I became vice commander of the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Bergstrom Air Force Base, TX and took command in May 1976. In August 1977 I left Bergstrom to command the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base, UT and was its commander during the initial introduction of the F-16 air combat fighter into the U.S. Air Force inventory.

In October 1979 I was named chief of the Office of Military Cooperation, Cairo, Egypt, responsible for the U.S. security assistance program in Egypt, and also served as the U.S Defense representative adviser to the ambassador on military matters. In August 1981 I was moved to Germany, becoming Director, plans and policy, J-5, Headquarters U.S. European Command, Vaihingen, Germany. In August 1984, I was then chosen to become Deputy Commander in Chief of the U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base, FL which is responsible for all US military activities in Southwest Asia.

I retired with more than 4,700 military flying hours with awards including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with 14 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal and Purple Heart.

I married Gayle White in 1959 & we were blessed with two daughters, Ellen & Jean. After retirement we lived in Scottsdale, AZ and then Austin, TX. To our sorrow, Gayle departed this life much too early in 2008.