William Cecil Lindley, Jr.

November 22, 1919 – August 4, 2016

Major General William Cecil Lindley, Jr., a former Randolph Air Force Base Commander, served 27 years in the Air Force completing two B-17 combat tours, for a total of 41 bombing runs, in England during WWII; a 50 mission tour in the B-26 night intruder in Korea; and, was a senior Air Force commander in southeast Asia during the Vietnamese War. As a member of the 95th Bomb Group he led some of the most difficult missions into Nazi Germany. Some of the highlights were the Regensburg shuttle to North Africa, the shuttle mission to Russia-Italy, then the return to England, and the bloody but highly successful mission to Munster. His Group was the only Eighth Air Force unit to be awarded three Distinguished Unit Citations and was the first US unit to bomb Berlin. In early 1943 in a raid on Kiel, the 95th lost 12 aircraft and the battle damage left one flyable aircraft on base.

During the Korean War, General Lindley was credited with 112 plus trucks destroyed and three trains. Other assignments included six years in the Pentagon; three years with NATO; a lengthy tour in Air Training Command, which included commanding Williams AFB in Arizona and Randolph AFB in Texas. His last assignments were as Deputy Chief of Staff Operations, Air Training Command and Deputy Commander of 7/13th Air Force at Udorn, Thailand. He retired in 1968.

General Lindley's decorations include the Silver Star, 3 Legions of Merit, 5 Distinguished Flying Crosses, Bronze Star, 9 Air Medals, Commendation Ribbons, 4 Distinguished Unit Citations, Rep of Korea Unit Citation, French Croix de Guerre with Palm, and the South Vietnamese Medal of Merit.

After retirement, General Lindley devoted his time to family but found time for golf and fishing. Membership in the 95th Bomb Group Association kept him in touch with friends from World War II. Two books describe, in detail, both personal and Group heroics. B-17s Over Berlin: Personal Stories from the 95th Bomb Group (Memories of War) and Munster: the way It was, both by Ian Hawkins.

'Bill' was born in Waynesboro, Mississippi on November 22, 1919 and died August 4 in San Antonio, Texas. He graduated from Mississippi State University in 1940 with a degree in Civil Engineering. He entered Aviation Cadet Training and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in 1941.

December 29, 1944, he married his college sweetheart, Roselyn McCord of Tupelo, Mississippi. She provided the stability and support to maintain a home and to raise three sons.

General Lindley is survived by his sweetheart of over 72 years, Roselyn and their family. He is also survived by his sons William C Lindley III and wife Donna of Carlsbad, CA, Jeff of New Braunfels and Jon and Nancy of New Braunfels. Grandchildren and spouses include Jessica, April (Dennis) Nelson, Kris (Shavon), Camarin (Joe) Faddis, Claire (Barry) Compton and Matthew. Great-grandchildren: Lindley Spencer, Amanda and Everett Nelson, and Raya Lindley. He is proceeded in death by his parents, sister Sybil and brother Giles, and daughter in law, Marty Lindley. There will be a private service at a later date.

A poem to live by:
Why Do You Still March Old Man
Why do you still march, Old Man
With medals on your chest?
Why do you still grieve, Old Man
For those comrades you've laid to rest?

Why do your eyes gleam, Old Man When you hear the bugles blow? Tell me why you cry, Old Man
For those days of long ago.

You seek answers from me, Young Man, It's by God's good grace I'm old;
But, I was once like you, Young Man, Full of youth and also quite bold.

And in my youth I heard the notes
Of the battle's bugle call. They put silver wings upon my chest, With the hope I would not fall.

I tell you why I march, Young Man With medals on my chest, And I will why I grieve, Young Man
For those I've laid to rest.

Through the misty folds of gossamer silk Come visions of distant times When boys of tender age
Climbed forth to distant climes.

We buried them in a blanket shroud,
Their young flesh scorched and blackened. A communal grave newly gouged
In the bloodstained gorse and bracken.

And you ask me why I march, Young Man? I march to remind you all
That, but for those brave and fallen youths You'd never have known freedom at all.

By Robert Service

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New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung (TX) - Saturday, August 6, 2016