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15413 Atkinson, Anderson Watkins
December 31, 1923 - March 30, 1992

usma1946-H2

 

 MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Jul '00

ANDERSON WATKINS ATKINSON * '46
No. 15413 * 31 Dec 1923 - 30 Mar 1992 Died in Niceville, FL * Interred in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA

ANDERSON WATKINS ATKINSON was born and raised in Fordyce, AR a small town in Southwest Arkansas. His sister, Margie recalled: "Our father was a country doctor who died when Andy was about ten years old. Andy graduated from Fordyce High School as Valedictorian and then told our mother he was leaving for New York to spend the summer working on the Hudson River Day Line. At the end of the summer, he didn't come home but let Mother know he was enrolling in Syracuse University but didn't need any money because he was getting a job. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps Cadet Program and was sent to Santa Ana, CA. He had received an alternate appointment to West Point and was accepted." Andy joined the Class of 1946 on 10 July 1943.

Andy was ten days late arriving in Beast Barracks and further endeared himself to the upperclassmen by announcing that he could land an A-6 in Central area. Classmate Lew Allen who rose to become Chief of Staff of the Air Force, recalled: "I remember Andy during plebe year for his marvelous sense of humor and his inability to take hazing seriously. Upperclassmen consistently failed to remove his grin and almost always ended up laughing with him." Andy opted for Air Cadet training yearling year and graduated with his pilot's wings as a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps.

Andy married his long time sweetheart, Shirley Marie (Susie) Seaman two days after graduation, 6 June 1946, at the West Point Cadet Chapel. After transition training to single engine aircraft in AZ, Andy was assigned to the 63rd Fighter Squadron at Selfridge AFB, MI. In March 1947, Andy's squadron was the first to convert to jets, the P-80. In 1949, the Atkinsons moved to Elmendorf AFB, AK where Andy joined the 66th Fighter Squadron. In 1951, Andy moved to Griffiss AFB, NY with the 27th Fighter Squadron flying F-86s and then F-94Cs.

In 1956, Andy received his Masters in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Michigan. This was followed by an assignment with MIT's Lincoln Laboratory at Hanscom Field, MA. Andy moved to the Pentagon in 1960, serving in the Directorate of Operational Requirements, ODCS, Operations, HQS US Air Force. This was followed by two years in Germany in the Office, Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, HQ US Air Force Europe in Wiesbaden. From Germany, Andy attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and in June 1967 became the deputy commander for operations of the 15th Tactical Fighter Wing at MacDill AFB, FL. In 1968, Andy went to Vietnam where he served as Chief, Command Center Branch, Seventh Air Force and then as Deputy Commander for Operations, 366 Tactical Fighter Wing, Da Nang AFB, Republic of Vietnam. Andy flew 114 combat missions in Southeast Asia in the F-4.

Back to the States in 1969, Andy became Commander, 3560 Pilot Training Wing, Webb AFB, TX. Then in 1971, Andy became Vice Commander, Sheppard Technical Training Wing, Sheppard AFB, TX, Andy returned to the Pentagon in 1973 to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was first Chief, Pacific Division (J-3) and then Assistant Deputy Director, Operations (national Military Command Systems) and finally Deputy Director, Operations (current operations). Andy's final assignment on active duty was with the Defense Intelligence Agency as Assistant Vice Director for Attaches and Training. He retired in 1980 as a Major General.

Retirement found the Atkinsons in Florida. Andy dabbled in real estate for a while but soon realized that it was interfering with his golf. He enjoyed retirement and being able to play golf as much as he wanted.

Andy died 30 March 1992 at his home in Niceville, FL. Survivors included his wife, Susie, sons, Randall and John, brother, Tom and sister, Margie.

It is evident that Andy Atkinson was everything a West Pointer is expected to be. He lived the motto in every aspect of his life. Classmate and fellow airman, H. Lobdell, MG, USAF, Rtd.: "Andy knew what flying was about. He was straightforward and demanding in his professional life, but he brought along a wry and delightful sense of humor. While he was tough, his down-home sense of humor and 'good-old-boy' manner took the edge off his strict and safety-conscious leadership. These qualities made Andy, in my opinion, the best Air Force operational flying supervisor and leader I have known. He certainly exemplified that which we would expect of a West Point graduate. I can give him no greater compliment. I miss the guy…not only for his understanding of what was right and wrong, but for the companionship he gave me and everyone around him."

Son, John and daughter-in-law, Ava, remembered: "John's father was one of the most unforgettable characters of our lives. He had strong moral character and projected such in his actions. He cared deeply about his children and grandchildren and never criticized the mistakes we made in rearing his grandchildren. He was a good listener and a great person from whom to seek advice. He cared a great deal about his country and was a great writer. He believed in tough love yet had a tender heart and tolerated thoughts, ideas and beliefs different from his own. John and I both miss him."

To the words of praise from his friends and family, the Class of 1946 is proud to add those few words that would mean so much to our classmate: "Well Done, Andy; Be Thou At Peace!"

'46 MEMORIAL ARTICLE PROJECT AND HIS FAMILY

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