An Airman's Story: Lieutenant General Claire Lee Chennault
Lieutenant General Clair Lee Chennault was born September 6, 1893, in Commerce City, Texas. His family moved to neighboring Louisiana, and he grew up in Gilbert and Waterproof. Lieutenant General Chennault graduated from Louisiana State University, where he was a member of the ROTC. After college, he worked as the principal of the Kilbourne School, and at the beginning of World War I, he left the reserves and enlisted on active duty. He completed his Officer's training at Fort Benning and was assigned to the Army Air Service, where he was taught to fly. When World War I ended in 1918, Lieutenant General Claire Chennault returned stateside for more training, taking extra courses in Pursuit Pilot skills. He led the 1st Pursuit Group's aerobatic team and performed at the 1928 National Air Races. Lieutenant General Chennault resigned from the US Air Force in 1937 due to lingering health issues and career stagnation. The Chinese recruited him to train Chinese pilots,...