Group to Lt Gen Martin G. Colladay, US Air Force

Group to Lt General Martin G. Colladay, US Air Force: Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, with 3 oak leaf clusters, machine-engraved “Martin G. Colladay”; Legion of Merit, crimp brooch, unnamed; Joint Service Commendation Medal, crimp brooch, unnamed; Air Force Commendation Medal, crimp brooch, unnamed; American Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Republic of Korea Order of Military Merit, Chungmu, neck badge, numbered “21430″ (1968-1974).

Martin G. Colladay, born in 1925 in Hutchinson, Kansas, graduated from the US Military Academy in 1946. After pilot training, he served with the 97th Bombardment Group in various locations. In 1952-1953, he trained as a navigator and radar observer. He the joined the 310th Bombardment Wing. In 1958, he became a programming officer for the Minuteman missile system and in 1964, he became chief of the Launch Analysis Group at Vandenberg Air Force Base, assessing the results of all ICBM launches. After a tour in Air Force Headquarters, he became vice commander of 21st Air Force (Military Airlift Command). In 1970, he was selected to be Assistant Chief of Staff, J-3 of United Nations Command/US Forces Korea. He later was the vice director of the joint staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. After a short time as chief of staff, Strategic Air Command Headquarters, General Colladay became the deputy chairman of the NATO Military Committee in Brussels, retiring from that position in August 1977. After retirement, General Colladay moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where he died in February 2003.