Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) George Finck joined the Air Force in 1956, ultimately becoming a command pilot with more than 11,000 flying hours in the C-11B, C-54, C-131, C-7A, T-29 and C-135. Additionally, he has logged more than 1,150 hours in combat. During his career, Finck was awarded the Air Force Cross for extraordinary heroism in the face of an armed enemy during his time spent in Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam. “I was awarded the Air Force cross for making the first night combat air drop ever in the C-7A Caribou,” said Finck. Also, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters. Finck retired from the Air Force in 1978, but plays a very active role with the Veteran’s Affairs office on Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. Following his retirement, he helped establish and taught Air Force ROTC cadets at Haughton High School from 1980 to 1996. His unit was the largest in the nation spanning a six-year period. His unit established records for the number of ROTC scholarships and military academy appointments awarded to his cadets. Finck is a life member of the American Legion, Veteran of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and the Legion of Valor.