RICHARD E. CARR (BORN 1937)

 Major General, United States Air Force

From the age of 6, retired two-star Air Force Maj. Gen. Richard E. Carr wanted to fly airplanes. Pursuing this passion, Carr flew his first solo flight on his 16th birthday. Ten years later, in 1963, he was deployed to Nha Trang Air Base, South Vietnam, as an advisor and instructor pilot, where he served  until July 1964. He then was transferred to Mather Air Force Base in California where he served as an instructor pilot. After earning his master’s degree, Carr was assigned as an associate professor of mathematics at the Air Force Academy from October 1968 until June 1971. There he was active in the airmanship program and coached the soaring team. After completing RF-4C training at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., in December 1972, Carr returned to Southeast Asia, and was assigned to Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, until July 1974. He served as a flight commander, chief of safety and squadron operations officer while flying more than 200 combat missions in the F4 Phantom fighter planes. After 39 years of service, Carr retired to Florida in 1994.