[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 620-621]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


              PAYING TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM HERMAN FAIRBROTHER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE ROGERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 5, 2002

  Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to William 
Herman Fairbrother for his service to our country. Mr. Fairbrother 
served his country for forty-three 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

[[Page 621]]

stuff as much military experience into the class as they could before 
sending them overseas. Shortly thereafter it was Ie Shima Flying P-47s 
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-80s and F-86s, 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 F-84Gs 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 went TDY for gunnery and rocketry 
training.
  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 was 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 
11 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.''
  William H. Fairbrother lived his life according to the Cadet Prayer 
spoken so many decades ago.
  O God, our Father, Thou Searcher of Human hearts, help us to draw 
near to Thee in sincerity and truth. May our religion be filled with 
gladness and may our worship of Thee be natural.
  Strengthen and increase our admiration for honest dealing and clean 
thinking, and suffer not our hatred of hypocrisy and pretence ever to 
diminish. Encourage us in our endeavor to live above the common level 
of life. Make us to choose the harder right instead of the easier 
wrong, and never to be content with a half truth when the whole can be 
won.
  Endow us with courage that is born of loyalty to all that is noble 
and worthy, that scorns to compromise with vice and injustice and knows 
no fear when truth and right are in jeopardy.
  Guard us against flippancy and irreverence in the sacred things of 
life. Grant us new ties of friendship and new opportunities of service. 
Kindle our hearts in fellowship with those of a cheerful countenance, 
and soften our hearts with sympathy for those who sorrow and suffer.
  Help us to maintain the honor of the Corps untarnished and unsullied 
and to show forth in our lives the ideals of West Point in doing our 
duty to Thee and to our Country.
  All of which we ask in the name of the Great Friend and Master of 
all. Amen.
  Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask my colleagues to join me 
in paying tribute to Mr. William Herman Fairbrother. I salute his 
service to our country.

                          ____________________