Halter pins on his first star

Irving L. Halter, Jr., started life as a clumsy farmboy whose uncles laughed when he said he wanted to learn to fly fighter jets.

Friday, in cermonies overseen by Lt. Gen. William Hobbins, 12th Air Force Commander, Halter formerly pinned on his first star as a brigadier general and Hobbins then presented him with his one-star flag.

The 366th Wing commander, whose rise through the ranks has been almost meteoric, had actually been holding that rank for several months.

During the war in Afghanistan he had been tasked to lead a provisional wing in the Mideast, which for political reasons required a one-star billet. In a move seldom used in the modern era, the Air Force "frocked" Halter, who was already a selectee for one-star rank, promoting him in the field until formal confirmation from Washington was received.

Friday's pinning ceremony at the Gunfighter Club on base, attended by officers, enlisted personnel and local dignitaries, made that confirmation official.

Hobbins, who said he was always "pleased to give recognition to some of America's finest warriors" by participating in promotion ceremonies, pinned Halter's first star on along with Halter's wife, Judy, the new general's high school sweetheart.

Typically, Hobbins said, out of every 100 officers who enter the Air Force, only one makes it to the rank of full colonel. "Every year, we look at about 5,000 colonels and decide to promote about 40-45," he said, pointing out how difficult it is to achieve flag rank.

But, he told Halter, "this doesn't happen by yourself. It happens with a great team of people," ranging from the troops under him to his family.

Hobbins went out of his way to praise Halter's family, noting that Judy Halter was "a great lady" who had always found the time to help young officers and enlisted personnel and their families. She, her husband and son, David, had been nominated while stationed in England for the Jerome O'Malley award for best Air Force family. Hobbins also praised 12-year-old David for his scholastic and athletic achievements, saying, "a lot of things have made this family special."

After his wife and Hobbins had pinned on his stars to his uniform jacket, David, whom Halter called "my best friend," and a cousin of Halter's pinned a second set on his blouse. David and his dad then hugged tightly.

Halter's career began in 1977 when he graduated from the Air Force Academy and married the young woman he had been dating since high school.

"His story is one of accelerated advancement beyond his peers," said Hobbins, who reviewed Halter's career. Time and time again, at each level, Halter was tapped for the highest honors, often handling jobs while below the rank normally assigned to such duties. At one time, for example, he was the only captain in the Air Force serving as a flight commander.

He has twice been promoted "below the zone," earlier than is normal, including his present rank as brigadier general.

He has flown numerous combat missions in the Mideast during his career and holds the Bronze Star, as well as the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Combat Readiness Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Southwest Asia Service Medal with three service stars and the Kuwait Liberation Medal.

Prior to coming to Mountain Home he had served in seven fighter units, including tours in the Pacific, Europe and the U.S.

Command assignments included the 493rd Fighter Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, and 1st Operations Group, Langley Air Force Base, Va. He also served as the Chief, Air Superiority and Combat Forces Divisions in the Air Staff's Directorate of Programs prior to assuming his present position. He came to Mountain Home after commanding the 48th Fighter Wing in Great Britain. He was a distinguished graduate from the Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., and holds a masters degree in international relations from Troy State University, Okla.

He is a command pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours, most in the F-15.

"I think," Hobbins said, "that you can tell by his career...(that) he is deserving of one-star rank."

Halter, in brief remarks afterwards, admitted that "this day has affected me more than I thought it would."

Looking out over the audience composed of his family, command staff and enlisted personnel, he noted that "you represent the support system that has gotten me here today."

He quoted Sir Isaac Newton, who once wrote, "I have achieved more than other men because I stood on the shoulders of giants."

"God sends me giants in the form of angels," he said, praising those he has commanded.

He said when he was growing up in a small town in New Jersey he was so clumsy his mother sent him to ballet school "because she was afraid I was going to fall down and kill myself some day." He would grow up to become a highly skilled pilot flying the nation's top-performance fighter jets.

He met his future wife, Judy, while in high school, and never dated anyone else. "She's my best buddy," he said.

He praised his teachers in school, who pushed him to be his best, and the many mentors he had had throughout his career in the Air Force.

Finally, he noted, "it's not about what you've done, it's about what you do, and I will do my best to be worthy" of his new rank.

Following the ceremonies, a reception was held at the Gunfighter Club.