Colonel Dale Wayne Leatham, 84, Aug. 3, 1930-Oct. 7, 2014. Dale W. Leatham was born in the small mining town of Ophir, Utah. He received a B.S. degree from Utah State University, where he was a proud member of ROTC.
In 1952, he entered the United States Air Force. He was active duty for 28 years and was stationed in Texas, Louisiana, Nevada, South Carolina, Virginia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Thailand, and Turkey. He held the distinguished honor of being able to hold the positions of fighter pilot, Squadron Operations Officer, Director of Operations, Vice-Commander, Commander, and several staff assignments. While Commander in Turkey he worked directly for the ambassador and was a member of the consulate staff.
Dale attended multiple USAF schools including: USAF Fighter Weapons School, Squadron Officers School, Armed Forces Staff College, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, and numerous survival schools. Over his distinguished career he flew the T-6, T-28, T-33, F-86, F-84, F-100, F-105, F-4, and the A-7. He flew 118 combat missions over North Vietnam in the F-105 and was awarded two Silver Stars, a Distinguished Flying Cross, 14 Air Medals, and the South Vietnam Medal for Gallantry.
After retiring from the Air Force in 1980 with the rank of Colonel, Dale worked in industry for the Department of Defense as an Operations Engineer and Manager, retiring October 1, 1997. He was a member of the Air Force Association, Retired Officer Association, Order of the Daedalians (Flight Captain), F-86 Sabre Pilots Association, and the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association. He was president of the Las Vegas Chapter of River Rats and received the National River Rats Association River Rat of the Year Award in 1996.
Dale is preceded in death by his childhood sweetheart Cherie Nelson Leatham. In their 58 years of marriage they enjoyed traveling the world and were wonderful parents and proud grandparents to nine grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.
Dale is survived by his two sons and two daughters: Stacey Leatham Goldfarb, Dale Wade Leatham, CarrieLeatham Phelps, Matthew Nelson Leatham, and his beloved brother Kay Leatham of Tooele, Utah.