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Rudolph Frank Wacker was born on a fresh fall
morning, the fourth of September 1929, in Poughkeepsie, NY, to Frank and Agnes
Wacker. Growing up, Rudy’s brother Ted and sister Joyce helped keep him in line
and ensured his success at Wappinger Central School. He graduated in 1946, soon
found an urge for military life, and enlisted in the Air Force in 1947.
Following stateside assignments, he was transferred to Germany as part of the
occupation forces.
Upon returning to the United States in September 1949, he attended the U.S.
Military Academy Preparatory School at Stewart Air Force Base, NY, and entered
West Point in June 1950 with the class of 1954 With his prior service, Rudy
brought a sense of confidence to the challenges of cadet life and frequently was
on hand to help the rest of us in G-2 Company cope. He played lacrosse his first
two years and lent his deep voice to the chapel choir all four years. Rudy found
humor in most of our trials and tribulations and kept the rest of us in a good
frame of mind. He wanted to get back into the Air Force and ranked high enough
in the class to select it upon graduation.
His undergraduate pilot training took place at Greenville Air Force Base, MS,
where he received his silver wings in August, 1955. He met and married the
former Betty Strobel of Paris, AR, in December 1955. Having always wanted to fly
fighters, he got his wish: first, with the 37th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at
Ethan Allen Air Force Base, VT, and then, in 1960, with the 65th Air Division at
Torrejon Air Base, Madrid, Spain. In 1963, he was assigned to the Air Force
Academy as a military training instructor. In addition to his classroom duties,
he was instrumental in formulating a summer field training program to provide
practical leadership opportunities for the cadets. He soon transitioned from
instructor to student, attending the Air Command & Staff College in Alabama and
graduating in 1967.
Rudy was assigned to fly F-4s from Da Nang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, from
February 1968 to February 1969, and 89 of his 240 combat missions were over
North Vietnam. This combat tour was followed by a fitting assignment to the
Pentagon as the air staff action officer for Southeast Asia interdiction
operations and, later, as chief of tactics in the operations directorate.
Leaving the Pentagon, he headed for Florida in 1972 to join the Tactical Air
Warfare Center at Eglin AFB. There he was responsible for electronic warfare
exercise evaluations and operational test and evaluation of new tactical
weapons. Rudy next attended the Royal College of Defense Studies in London,
England. Following graduation in 1975, Rudy was assigned to the 10th Tactical
Reconnaissance Wing in Alconbury, England as the deputy commander for resource
management. In 1976, he was named vice commander of the 81st Tactical Fighter
Wing at the twin bases in RAFB Bentwaters/Woodbridge, England, prior to becoming
commander in 1977. During his command, the wing converted from three squadrons
of F-4s to six squadrons of A-10 close air support aircraft. This tour was one
of the highlights of Rudy’s career. In July of 1979, Rudy was promoted to
brigadier general, gave up his fighters, and took command of the 42nd Air
Division, Strategic Air Command, at Blytheville Air Force Base, AR. In the
summer of 1982, he took command of the 19th Air Division of the Strategic Air
Command at Carswell Air Force Base, TX.
Always a well respected and much admired commander, a ballpark on what was
formerly Bentwaters/Woodbridge Air Base was named after him. In addition, a road
still bears his name: “Wacker Field Road.”
Rudy never forgot where he came from. A former airman working base security
related a story of then-COL Wacker who, with his wife, returned to base one
frigid British night. The airman saluted him, gloveless, her hands “fire engine
red” and “very cold,” having loaned her gloves to another airman. After asking
where her gloves were, COL Wacker offered her his gloves, which she initially
refused until he “ordered” her to take them, with a smile. Even on Rudy’s last
active day of duty, he arose early, dressed, and went down to eat at the chow
hall with the troops.
After 37 years of service to our country and over 5,000 hours of flying in 20
different military aircraft, Rudy retired from the U.S. Air Force in May of
1984. His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the
Legion of Merit, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Meritorious Service
Medals, sixteen Air Medals and two Air Force Commendation Medals.
Rudy didn’t slow down after leaving the Air Force. He kept up the pace at a
financial management firm in Little Rock, AR, for three years before turning to
civic and volunteer work in the community. He was a familiar face at Little Rock
Air Force Base, as he counseled retirees at the base hospital about health care,
and was a member of the Air Base Community Council. He also was called upon by
the local television station to provide military commentary regarding action in
the Persian Gulf War.
In 1999, Rudy and Betty moved to Springfield, MO, to be closer to sons Paul and
Rudy and their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They became active members
of their church and Rudy remained active in the Rotary Club (having helped found
a chapter in Sherwood, AR). Rudy also found time to participate in an elementary
school’s assisted reading program for first graders. Rudy will be missed by his
family, his classmates, his G-2 buddies, the United States Air Force and the
Country as he joins those who served and died in the name of Duty, Honor,
Country.
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