Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Michael
Charles
Short
February 24, 1944

–

October 27, 2017

Born:

Princeton

, 

New Jersey

Home:

Belle Mead

, 

New Jersey

Buried: 

Arlington

, 

Virginia

Cemetery:

Arlington National Cemetery

Michael Short graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado, Class of 1965. He retired in 2000 as a U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    Captain

    Batallion:

    557th Tactical Fighter Squadron

    Division:

    Cam Ranh Bay Air Base, South Vietnam

    Action Date:

    February 19, 1968

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Michael Charles Short (AFSN: FR-80651), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-4C Pilot of the 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Cam Ranh Air Base, South Vietnam, in action against the enemy at Song Be City, Republic of Vietnam, on 19 February 1968. On that date, Captain Short flew in support of friendly ground forces that were under heavy hostile attack. His courage in pressing the attack while under intense hostile ground fire, rendered a large portion of first line hostile forces ineffective. Because of this courageous action many friendly lives were saved. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Short reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.

  • Defense Superior Service Medal

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    Major General

    Action Date:

    July 1993 – July 1995

    Under the provisions of Department of Defense 1348.33-M, the Secretary of Defense of the United States of America takes pleasure in awarding the Defense Superior Service Medal to Lieutenant General Michael C. Short, United States Air Force, for exceptionally superior service to the Department of Defense as Director, Joint Training, United States Atlantic Command, from July 1993 to July 1995. General Short served in this assignment with extraordinary skill, strength, and wisdom in a position of vital importance to the national security of the United States. His outstanding leadership, strategic vision, and most impressive operational and managerial skills were instrumental in the creation of a highly effective, reorganized United States Atlantic Command. He personally directed a myriad of events, each of considerable national importance, that were accomplished during one of the most significant reorganizations of the structure of joint military training in United States history. General Short was the focal point in the development of the USACOM Joint Training Program and the planning and implementation of the Joint Training. Analysis and Simulation Center. His personal involvement, planning, and guidance have produced a highly integrated joint training concept that will incorporate the application of leading edge technology to the support of joint training. His accomplishments, while the Director for Joint Training at USACOM, will ensure maintenance of the highest levels of force readiness, training, and joint service interoperability. General Short’s exceptional skills, foresightedness and expertise produced an extremely comprehensive joint training road map that will take the United States Atlantic Command and our joint forces into the next century. The distinctive accomplishments of Major General Short reflect great credit upon himself, the United States Air Force, and the Department of Defense.

  • Air Force Distinguished Service Medal

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    Lieutenant General

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal to Lieutenant General Michael Charles Short (AFSN: FR-80651), United States Air Force, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of General Short and his dedicated contributions in the service of his country reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant

    Batallion:

    557th Tactical Fighter Squadron

    Division:

    Cam Ranh Bay Air Base, South Vietnam

    Action Date:

    August 17, 1967
    Headquarters, 7th Air Force (PACAF), Special Order G-1552 (May 25, 1968

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Michael Charles Short (AFSN: FR-80651), United States Air Force, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force as an F-4C Pilot with the 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Cam Ranh Air Base, South Vietnam, in action against the enemy over Southeast Asia on 17 August 1967. On that date, Lieutenant Short, despite intense hostile ground fire that seriously damaged his aircraft, aggressively attacked a hostile anti-aircraft site, destroying two active gun positions. His courageous action greatly assisted in recovery operations for a downed fellow pilot in the area. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Lieutenant Short has reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.

  • Defense Distinguished Service Medal

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    Lieutenant General

    Under the provisions of Executive Order 11545, July 9, 1970, the Secretary of Defense of the United States of America take pleasure in awarding the Defense Distinguished Service Medal to Lieutenant General Michael Charles Short, United States Air Force, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service contributing to national security and defense, in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States. The distinctive accomplishments of Lieutenant General Short reflect great credit upon himself, the United States Air Force, and the Department of Defense.

  • Defense Distinguished Service Medal

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    Lieutenant General

    Under the provisions of Executive Order 11545, July 9, 1970, the Secretary of Defense of the United States of America take pleasure in awarding a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal to Lieutenant General Michael Charles Short, United States Air Force, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service contributing to national security and defense, in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States. The distinctive accomplishments of Lieutenant General Short reflect great credit upon himself, the United States Air Force, and the Department of Defense.

  • Air Force Distinguished Service Medal

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    Lieutenant General

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal to Lieutenant General Michael Charles Short (AFSN: FR-80651), United States Air Force, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of General Short and his dedicated contributions in the service of his country reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    Lieutenant General

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Lieutenant General Michael Charles Short (AFSN: FR-80651), United States Air Force, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of General Short and his dedicated contributions in the service of his country reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant

    Batallion:

    557th Tactical Fighter Squadron

    Division:

    Cam Ranh Bay Air Base, South Vietnam

    Action Date:

    January 10, 1968
    Headquarters, 7th Air Force, Special Orders G-1590 (May 29, 1969)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant Michael Charles Short (AFSN: FR-80651), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-4C Pilot of the 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Cam Ranh Air Base, South Vietnam, in action against the enemy near Chu Lai, Republic of Vietnam, on 10 January 1968. On that date, Lieutenant Short flew in support of friendly ground forces under a hostile ambush. Despite marginal weather conditions, mountainous terrain, and hostile ground fire which damaged his aircraft, Lieutenant Short made repeated passes on the hostile position. His courageous and aggressive action is credited with the saving of many friendly lives. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Short reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.