[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 17 (Tuesday, February 26, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E199-E200]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              PAYING TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM HERMAN FAIRBROTHER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE ROGERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 26, 2002

  Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to William 
H. Fairbrother served his country for thirty years and did what he 
loved.
  William Herman Fairbrother was born in Endicott, New York, on March 
28, 1923, the son of Lieutenant Herman and Caroline Fairbrother. He 
grew up on a variety of Infantry Posts, to include the Panama Canal 
Zone, and Manila, Philippine Islands. Bill entered the United States 
Military Academy at West Point on a Congressional appointment from the 
34th District of New York. When he arrived at West Point he knew the 
prepared sling, the hasty sling and had qualified with the 30-caliber 
water-cooled machine gun. This made it easy to shoot expert with the MI 
Garand plebe year. Academics, however, were something else. With the 
help of ``Sully's Cram School'' in Washington, DC the previous year he 
did fairly well in the first half year. But after that it was a 
continuing struggle to stay proficient. Because of many moves, High 
School had been rushed and spotty, and the four years of Academy study 
being rushed into three because of World War II made the task even 
harder. On the other hand, flying, which was his first love went 
smoothly. Primary flight training in Texas and then Basic and Advanced 
at Stewart during the three years went without problems. It was during 
the Plebe year that he picked up the nickname ``Fair-Bee'' in keeping 
with the academy tradition to reduce the spoken word to its simplest 
form.
  Fair-B graduated with the class of 1944, the D-Day class, albeit 
rather far down the list. On the very next day, in the Cadet Chapel, he 
married his childhood sweetheart, Patricia Ross of Kenmore, New York 
and they lived happily ever after. P-40 and P-47 training, together 
with those of the class selected for the Fighter business, followed 
with time at many different bases, as the Service endeavored to stuff 
as much military experience into the class as they could before sending 
them overseas. Shortly thereafter it was Ie Shima Flying P-47's against 
the Japanese. After the war the unit moved over to Okinawa and Patricia 
joined him there in 1946. They, along with many other pioneer souls set 
up housekeeping in a Quonset hut. Number one daughter, Bonnie was born 
in Okinawa in 1947. In December 1947, Fair-B brought the family back to 
the US to Selfridge, Michigan. The duty was with the 56th Fighter Group 
flying F-80's and F-86's, where he was squadron adjutant and group 
adjutant. It was during this time, in 1948, that daughter number two, 
Nancy, was born. In 1951 it was off to Minneapolis in the Air Defense 
Control Center business. There he was assigned as an aircraft 
controller and control center chief with the 31st Air Division. Flying 
time was cadged from the local guard squadron, which was equipped with 
P-51s. Then in 1953 cold weather assignments continued, this time to 
Rapid City, South Dakota and the 54th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at 
Ellsworth Air Force Base. This was probably the happiest assignment in 
his career, with over two years of the time there being in command of 
the squadron. Initially, the airplanes were P-51s, then F84Gs and 
finally F-86Ds. He had always said that next to being a Captain and 
Fighter Squadron Flight commander, the position of Fighter Squadron 
Commander was the best job in the Air Force.
  Exchange duty with the Royal Air Force at RAF Manby, England followed 
in June of 1956. The assignment was attendance at the RAF Flying 
College. The family thoroughly enjoyed this short tour living in the 
small East Anglia town of Sutton-on-Sea, going to English Schools, 
learning the language, dealing with pounds, schillings and pence, and 
driving the left side of the road. Fair-B accumulated a respectable 
amount of time in British Aircraft to include the Gloster meteor, 
Hawker Hunter and British Electric Canberra. In January 1957 the family 
arrived in Rabat Morocco. The assignment here was Chief, Combat 
Operations in the 316th Air Division. Further broadening and true 
sophistication took place during this time. Not only was the Division 
partially manned with French Air Force personnel but also, the family 
lived in a French villa and had an Arab houseboy. In addition, flights 
on military aircraft, with family, up to the European continent were 
allowed once a year. They took full advantage of this privilege and 
managed to visit Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Germany and 
Switzerland during their Moroccan stay. The Division Fighter Squadrons 
were equipped with F-86D and F-100 aircraft so Fair-B was able to keep 
his hand in. There were many trips to Wheelus Air Force Base in 
Tripoli, Libya, where the squadrons when TDY for gunnery and rocketry 
training.

[[Page E200]]

  The three and a half years in North Africa went by quickly, and the 
return to the US happened in June 1960 with attendance at the Air War 
College. Following graduation from the Air War College he spent a long 
five years in the Pentagon, first on the Air Staff in War Plans and 
then as Executive Assistant in the Office of the Air Force Chief of 
Staff. One year with Curtis LeMay and one year with John McConnell 
provided rare and valuable staff experience.
  After the fast pace of the Washington area, duty on the CINCPAC staff 
in Hawaii, starting in 1966, seemed slow indeed. Here Fair-B served on 
the staff of the Commander in Chief, Pacific, at Camp Smith. Not only 
did they take off for the weekends, but Wednesday afternoons as well. 
The duty was good, with many evaluation trips to the MAAG supported 
countries in the Far East. This, together with quarters on Hickam, and 
the benevolent Hawaiian weather made for a delightful tour.
  Patricia stayed in Hawaii when Fair-B went to the Republic of Vietnam 
to join the 14th Special Operations Wing. As Vice Commander and then 
Commander he was kept busy monitoring the varied activities of the 
Wing, which were performed from nine separate bases. The little command 
O-2 spent a lot of time touring the country. In addition to the 
clandestine operations, the Wing had the AC-47 and AC-119 gunships, the 
psychological warfare business with O-2s and C-47s and the only armed 
helicopter squadron in the Air Force, flying UH-1Ns. He served the Wing 
from September 1969, to September 1970.
  After Vietnam the next assignment as Deputy Chief of Staff at 
Headquarters Air Force Logistics Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force 
Base, Ohio with the job of DCS Distribution. The assignment was not 
because of any logistics experience but mainly because the boss man 
wanted some operational talent on the staff. The job was fascinating 
and of enormous scope. Fair-B jumped in with his typical enthusiasm and 
his performance helped in getting him promoted to Brigadier General on 
April 1, 1972. Separation from the Air Force came in 1974 with Fair-B 
being allowed to keep the wife and kids and the Air Force keeping the 
airplanes. His decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, 
Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with two 
oak leaf clusters and the Meritorious Service Medal. He was a command 
pilot.
  Fair-B and Patricia, hand in hand then returned to Hawaii, their 
choice of all the places they had tried throughout the years. They 
moved into an apartment on Waikiki beach and then took the time to read 
what there wasn't time for before, and work on the projects that had 
long ago been put aside. Other activities during this eight-year idyll 
included working with the House Republican Whip in the Hawaii State 
Legislature, activities with the Retiree Affairs Council at Hickam and 
work with the Oahu Chapter of the Air Force Association. 1982 found 
them in San Antonio, Texas, and in 1987 they made their next-to-the-
last PAC move into a cottage at Air Force Village II. Fair-B served 
three years as a Trustee on the Board of the Air Force Village 
Foundation, and over three years as a Director on the Air Force Village 
II Board of Directors.
  He died at 6 am on January 27th at Air Force Village II. He is 
survived by Patricia; daughters and sons-in-law Bonnie and Jerold 
Kreidler, Nancy and James Councilor and granddaughters Katherine and 
Patricia Councilor.
  While it can be said he never single handedly moved the world around, 
he certainly participated in many worthwhile events that did. As a 
result those who knew him well can look back over his busy years and 
say, ``Not too shabby, old son, not too shabby.''
  Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask my colleagues to join me 
in paying tribute to General William H. Fairbrother. I especially wish 
to extend the gratitude of a grateful nation to his wife Patricia and 
daughters Bonnie and Nancy for so selflessly supporting his service to 
our country. I salute General Fairbrother as he represented the honor, 
and the values, of America's greatest generation.

                          ____________________