Obituary of Joseph Joe'' Myers

Brigadier General Joseph ?Joe? Myers, Ret., 82, of St. Petersburg, died Thursday January 4, 2001 at Edward White Hospital. Born in Hazard, Kentucky, he came here in 1970 from Omaha, Nebraska. He retired from the US Air Force in 1970 after serving for 30 years. He served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. He was assigned as SACEUR?s Representative to the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff effective August 1, 1969; and prior to that, was the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations for the 4th Allied Tactical Air Force at Ramstein AFB, Germany. Before that assignment, he was the Commander of the Los Angeles Air Defense Sector at Norton AFB, California. While stationed there, his responsibilities included the air defense of Southern California and the Southwestern approaches to the American Continent. He was a veteran fighter pilot for 28 years after entering the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1941, while attending Ohio State University. He received his commission as a Second Lieutenant upon completion of the Aviation Cadet Program at Kelly Field, Texas, and became a rated pilot in April, 1942. His first assignment was at the 55th Fighter Group at McChord Field, Washington. He also had various command assignments after the war in the US, Canada and Europe. Upon returning to the States in February, 1959, he took command of the 4751st Air Defense Wing Missile at Hurlburt Field in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida. He received the Legion of Merit for his work on the development of the IM-99 Bomarc Interceptor Missile. This Air Defense Wing conducted operational suitability tests and trained air defense command personnel on maintenance and operational procedures applicable to this advanced weapons system. In between this assignment and Los Angeles, he served at Headquarters, Air Defense Command, Ent AFB, Colorado as Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff/Personnel. He held a Command Pilot rating and was awarded the Air Force Missile Badge. He flew jets exclusively since 1947 and checked out practically every jet aircraft in the Air Force inventory. His decorations include: Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, plus 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal plus 13 Oak Leaf Clusters, French Croix de Guerre, Czechoslovakian War Cross in 1939, Distinguished Unit Badge, Legion of Merit plus 3 Oak Leaf Clusters and the Air Force Commendation Medal. General Myers retired from the Air Force in October, 1970, at which time he and his wife moved to St. Petersburg. He was also a member of the Order of Daedalians, Fighter Aces Association, Combat Pilots Association and Retired Officer?s Association. He resided in Canton, Ohio prior to his entry into the military. Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Margaret Green Myers, a nephew, Larry Myers of Chesterfield, Missouri, and a niece, Linda Myers Naylor of Sacramento, California. Anderson-McQueen Funeral Homes and Cremation Tribute Center?Ninth Street Chapel, St. Petersburg.