Jerald D. Slack
Jerald D. Slack | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Jerald David Slack |
| Born | February 14, 1936 Peoria, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | May 18, 2024 (aged 88) near Stoughton, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | Air National Guard |
| Years of service | 1959–1996 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Awards |
|
Jerald David Slack (February 14, 1936 – May 18, 2024) was a major general in the United States Air National Guard and Adjutant General of Wisconsin.
Biography
[edit]Slack graduated high school in Pekin, Illinois.[1] Later he would attend Purdue University, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Bradley University.
Jerald D. Slack was married to Sherill Slack, with whom he had three children.[2][3] His son, who served in the Air Force, died in 2012.[4] Jerald Slack died from cancer on May 18, 2024, at the age of 88.[5]
Career
[edit]Slack originally enlisted in the Illinois Air National Guard in 1959. He would transfer to the Wisconsin Air National Guard in 1961 and was commissioned a second lieutenant. Slack would acquire more than 3,200 hours flying in a Cessna T-37 Tweet, Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star, Northrop F-89 Scorpion, Convair F-102 Delta Dagger, Cessna O-2 Skymaster, Cessna A-37 Dragonfly, Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, and the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker. He was promoted to Major General of August 3, 1990 and his retirement was effective as of February 13, 1996, the day before his 60th birthday.[6][7][8]
Awards he had received include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with oak leaf cluster, the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, the Combat Readiness Medal, the National Defense Service Medal with service star, the Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver oak leaf cluster and two bronze oak leaf clusters, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with two hourglass devices, the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with service star, and the Air Force Training Ribbon.
In 2019, he was inducted into the Wisconsin Air National Guard Hall of Fame.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ "Major General Jerald D. Slack". Archived from the original on 2012-04-06. Retrieved 2010-08-09.
- ^ "Sherill Cordts and Jerry Slack at a dance". The Pantagraph. 3 December 1956. p. 10. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ^ Gribble, Roger (14 July 1991). "Slack is pleased with Guard role". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 30. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ^ "Slack, Major John Cordts". Wisconsin State Journal. 18 November 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ^ "Major General (Ret.) Jerald David "Jerry" Slack". Gunderson Funeral and Cremation Care. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ Pommer, Matt (27 November 1989). "Governor names Guard chief". The Capital Times. p. 18. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ^ Gribble, Roger (10 February 1992). "State Guard cuts likely to be modest". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 1. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ^ "Guard leader retiring soon". The Journal Times. 25 October 1995. p. 11. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ^ "Wisconsin National Guard honors current and former Guardsmen at awards banquet". DVIDS. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
- 1936 births
- 2024 deaths
- Military personnel from Wisconsin
- Adjutants General of Wisconsin
- United States Air Force generals
- Recipients of the Legion of Merit
- Purdue University alumni
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumni
- Bradley University alumni
- People from Pekin, Illinois
- Military personnel from Illinois