Eckert, William D. (William Dole), 1909-1971

William Dole Eckert (1909-1971) was born in Freeport, Illinois, and served as a member of the Indiana National Guard prior to entering the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1926. He graduated in 1930, and received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in a field artillery unit of the U.S. Army. The same year, he entered the Primary Flying School at Brooks Field, Texas. He would go on to attend Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas, from which he graduated in 1931 with the rating of pilot. Early assignments after flight school included with the 36th Pursuit Squadron at Selfridge Field, Michigan, and with the 29th Pursuit Squadron at Albrook Field, Canal Zone. In September, 1938, he entered Harvard Business School and graduated two years later with a Master's Degree in Business Administration. In January of 1944, Eckert entered the Army and Navy Staff College, and upon graduating, assumed the role of Commander of the 452nd Bomb Group in the European Theater. Other roles during his European assignment included as Chief of Maintenance and Chief of Supply for the Ninth Air Force Service Command. In July, 1945, he returned to the U.S. and was assigned a series of administrative and command roles with Headquarters, U.S. Air Force at Washington, D.C., including a period serving as executive officer to the Undersecretary of the Air Force. In 1949, Eckert returned to Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, and assumed the role of Comptroller of the Air Materiel Command. In 1951, his role expanded to Deputy Commander of the Air Materiel Command. He would return to Headquarters, U.S. Air Force in 1952 as Deputy Chief of Staff for Materiel. Following a brief stint as Deputy Commander of the Tactical Air Command at Langley, Virginia, Eckert assumed duties as Comptroller, U.S. Air Force, as of February 1, 1960. Eckert's career decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, and foreign medals. He retired from active duty on April 1, 1961, and died April 1, 1971.