Brigadier General John J. Liset, Usaf (Ret.)

GENERAL LISET was born in Boston, MA on July 3, 1920. He moved to Fall River, MA, in 1927, and graduated from B.M.C. Durfee High School in 1938 and from Southeast Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1940. He is a graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College, a distinguished graduate of the Air War College; and, in 1968, he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Affairs from the University of Maryland at Heidelberg, Germany.

He competed in all sports and developed a love for golf. But, he was also known for his baseball pitching ability in the city of Fall River, where, at age 18, he tried out for the Red Sox.

He began his long career in aviation in September 1942, when he entered the Aviation Cadet Flying Training Program of the U.S. Army Air Corps. In February 1944, he received his wings and a commission as a 2nd Lt. at George Field, IL. He joined the 448th Bomb Group as a B-29 Aircraft Commander until the group was deactivated. It was with that group, as a pilot, he helped break several International Speed Records in a B-29 over 1,000 and 2,000 mile courses. The records still stand for propeller-driven aircraft.

In addition to B-29's, General Liset checked out in B-25's, B-26's, A-26's and cargo aircraft. He soon joined the 22nd Bomb Group on Okinawa, where he had Wing Materiel responsibilities as well as those of B-29 pilot for the commander. While there, he assisted in the evacuation of Chiang Kai-Shek and his forces from China to Taiwan and shut down U.S. facilities near Shanghai pending Mao's takeover.

With the cessation of hostilities, he returned to the U.S and began what was to be a long association with the U.S. Military Assistance Programs in support of our Allies administering the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan. Among other assignments, he was Director of Transportation of the USAF Transportation Control Depot, Newark, NJ; Chief, Logistics MAAG Norway; Chief, Logistics Military Assistance Division Air Materiel Command WPAFB, OH; and Chief, Program Control Military Assistance USAF Washington, D.C.

He attended the Armed Forces Staff College in 1960 and served as head of a group to assist the South Viet Nam Air Force in defending themselves against the North Vietnamese. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, he was instrumental in implementing the quid pro quo to resolve the crisis (i.e., the removal of the U.S. ballistic missiles based in Turkey that were targeting the U.S.S.R. General Liset was then assigned as Chief, Plans Division in the Directorate of Military Assistance Headquarters U.S. European Command, first in France and later in Germany. While there, he accompanied the Supreme Allied Commander to Congress over a three-year period as the only other individual qualified to defend programs in support of our Allies in NATO and the rest of the world.

In February 1971, General Liset became Chief of the U.S. Air Force Section Joint Brazil-United States Military Commission. He remained in Brazil for three years working with the Brazilian Air Force personnel who fought with U.S. Forces in Europe. Together, they formed a solid relationship that endures today.

General Liset's military decorations include the Legion of Merit (presented three times, Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Meritorius Service Award.

He retired at the end of his tour in Brazil having completed 32 years of service that provided him with an extensive knowledge of the Air Forces of almost every country in the free world. The Aircraft Engine Group of General Electric Co. asked him to develop a logistics system to support GE military engines in the hands of our Allies - but on a commercially-direct basis. Thus, for the next 12 years, now fully retired from the Air Force, he spent his energies building an International Support Program for GE's overseas military customers. He was also instrumental in the establishment of an Integrated Logistics Support Section to support the B-1B bomber and other aircraft using GE engines.

General Liset was married to the former Mary Louse McGrath for 62 years. He is survived by his son, J. Robert, daughters, Kathryn and Mary Jaye, as well as grandchildren, Stephen and Caroline.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, May 10, 2010 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 400 Nilles Rd., Fairfield, OH 45014 with Father Larry Tharp, Celebrant. Burial will Full Military Honors will occur privately at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA. Visitation will be 2-4 p.m., Sunday, May 9, 2010 at the Avance Funeral Home & Crematory, 4976 Winton Rd., Fairfield, OH 45014. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to your local Disabled American Veteran's Chapter. The family will accept condolences at www.avancefuneralhome.com.

Visitation

2-4 p.m., Sunday, May 9, 2010 @ Avance Funeral Home

Service

10:30 a.m., Monday, May 10, 2010 @ Sacred Heart Catholic Church