John Brooks, Age 84, our dear friend and neighbor, departed this world about 7:00AM on 7 September 2001, at the Gerber Memorial Health Services Center in Fremont, Michigan. At his side was his beloved wife of 60 years, Jane Brooks. Also present were Air Force friends Colonel Dick Atkins and wife Marian of Arlington, Texas.

 A West Point Graduate and career Air Force Officer of 29 years, “Johnnie Brooks”, as he was known by his comrades-in-arms, was born in Rumson, New Jersey on 29 May 1917 to Colonel John A. Brooks and Irma Richey Brooks.

John graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point in June 1941. John an Jane were married immediately and John was off to war and began a distinguished military career that lasted for 29 years. He completed pilot training in August 1941 and was assigned to the 389^th Bomb Group where he trained in the B-24 Liberator bomber. One of his first missions was as a Group Deputy Commander on the famous 1 August 1943 low level raid on the Ploesti, Rumania oil fields. John went on to fly 25 combat missions out of England for the Mighty 8^th Air Force. Soon after, he was selected to command the 2^nd Scouting Force, leading the entire 8^th Air Force bomber fleet, day after day, through the terrible weather of central Europe. Though aerial combat was not the primary mission, on 9 February 1945,John and his wingman attacked over 100 German fighters and John shot down 2 while completely stopping the German attack on the bomber fleet, saving hundreds of bomber crew lives. For his leadership and heroic action he was awarded the nations second highest military medal, the Distinguished Service Cross.

 In addition to the DFC, John’s awards include 3 Distinguished Flying Crosses, The Silver Star, 6 Air medals, the 3 Legions of  Merit and many other citations.

 After the World War II, John continued his successful career with successive assignments as commander of the US Air Force’s premier Jet Fighter organizations, the 20^th and 36^th Fighter Wings. He then attended the National War College and was selected for the rank of General. After many successful command assignments he retired in July 1969.

 Not satisfied with “going fishing;” John and Jane embarked on a second career with the International Executive Service Corps as an un-paid Country Director in Brazil and Venezuela under David Rockefeller. In 1979, it WAS time to go fishing and they settled in the old family homestead in Newaygo, Michigan, on Hess Lake and spent winters at their Fort Myers, Florida home.

 John is survived by Wife Jane of Newaygo; Son John A. IV of Longwood, FL; Daughters Betty Jane Blevins of Greenville, OH and Carolyn Lee Moore of Jacksonville Beach , FL ; 10 Grandchildren and 3 Great Grandchildren and a host of friends all over the world.

 Memorial services will be held at 1:00PM on Friday 14 September 2001

At the Newaygo United Church of Christ with Rev. David Wygmans officiating. Military honors will be conducted by the US Air Force and the Veterans of Foreign Wars at VFW Post 4249 at 9075 Mason Drive, Newaygo. Visitation will commence immediately after the ceremonies.