honorific_prefix caption birth_date image article_title name
general lieutenant general hewitt t. wheless distinguished of merit air medal flying cross air force distinguished service medal legion wheless ht.jpg hewitt t. wheless
 hewitt t. wheless
hewitt t. wheless

hewitt terrell wheless -lrb- october 13 , 1913 -- september 7 , 1986 -rrb- was a united states air force officer known for his heroism on a bombing mission against japanese ships in the philippines on december 14 , 1941 , a week after the japanese attack on pearl harbor .
he was awarded the distinguished service cross and mentioned by name in franklin roosevelt 's fireside chat on april 28 , 1942 .
in 1947 , he was assigned to the strategic air command and was named sac chief of staff in 1962 .
he was assigned to headquarters u.s. air force in 1963 and retired in june 1968 as assistant vice chief of staff of the air force .
