James R. Allen

James R. Allen
General James R. Allen
Born	(1925-11-17)November 17, 1925 Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Died	August 11, 1992(1992-08-11) (aged 66) Alexandria, Virginia, United States
Place of burial	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1948-1983
Rank	General
Commands held	Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy Military AIrlift Command
Battles/wars	Korean War Vietnam War
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit (3)

General James Rodgers Allen (November 17, 1925 – August 11, 1992) was commander in chief of the Military Airlift Command, with headquarters at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois,^[1]

He served as a pilot in combat during parts of the Korean War and the Vietnam War, and otherwise was in training, training others, or contributing in planning, administrative or management capacities.

While a planner in the Pentagon, "he was a principal architect of a joint Army-Air Force helicopter raid in 1970 on a camp in North Vietnam, where American prisoners were believed to be held. No prisoners were found."^[2]

He was Superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy during 1974–1977,^[1] and was its seventh Superintendent in that role.^{[citation needed]} During his superintendency, the first women cadets started at the academy: on 26 June 1976, 157 women entered, of whom 97 would eventually graduate in 1980.

He was born on November 17, 1925, in Louisville, Kentucky. He entered the U.S. Military Academy in 1944 and was in military service for his full career, retiring on July 1, 1983.^[1] He died of cancer at the hospital of Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on August 11, 1992.^[2] He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.^[3]

Awards and decorations[]

US Air Force Command Pilot Badge

	Defense Distinguished Service Medal
	Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
	Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
	Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster
	Bronze Star
	Air Medal with eleven oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
	Army Commendation Medal
	Air Force Presidential Unit Citation with oak leaf cluster
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" device and three oak leaf clusters
	American Campaign Medal
	World War II Victory Medal
	National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
	Korean Service Medal with eight service stars
	Vietnam Service Medal with two service stars
	Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters
	Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
	National Order of Merit (France), Commander
	, (Sudan)
	Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
	Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Award
	United Nations Korea Medal
	Vietnam Campaign Medal

Personal life[]

Allen was married to Kathryn A. Allen. Together, they had a daughter named Katherine Lewis Allen and a son named Jeffrey R. Allen.^[4]

Legacy[]

The James R. Allen School, now known as Brandenburg Primary School, or JRA, in Brandenburg, Kentucky, was named for him.^{[citation needed]}

References[]