Photo By Mindy Bloem | The image is former 149th Fighter Wing commander, Air Force Col. Charles Quist, posing...... read more read more
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas — In the evening hours of late April, a dedicated son read one last poem to his ailing father and bid his goodnight. Before reaching his vehicle, he was called back to the house. His
father had stopped breathing.
Saying goodbye is never easy.
On April 25, 2015, former and current members of the 149th Fighter Wing
paid respects to the man who had served as wing commander from 1965
to 1976. During retired Col. Charles Quist’s memorial service, some had
specific memories of serving under his leadership. Others merely wanted to
honor the former military man.
“As our commander and leader, he excelled,” said retired Col. Harold Blacksheare to the crowd during Quist’s eulogy. “During his command, he led the 149th Tactical Fighter Group [then called] to four successive ‘outstanding’ ratings — unprecedented. He kept us combat ready with enviable demeanor.”
Quist probably never envisioned leaving behind such a legacy when
originally joining the Texas National Guard back in 1937. Born and raised in
Texas, he must have felt that state pride run deep to have lied about his age and enlist sooner rather than later at just 15 years old. Five years later, in 1942, came the mobilization for World War II, and Quist found himself in pilot training, eventually flying more than 63 different aircraft — a rare feat even among pilots.
These high numbers may have been partly due to his job as a ferry pilot. A ferry pilot moves aircraft from base to base to deliver it from the factory or from a maintenance facility or for other miscellaneous reasons. His job ferry flying afforded him enviable experience with a wide variety of aircraft.
After the war ended, Quist remained loyal to the Texas National Guard. He
joined the new “Air National Guard” after its formation, later taking his family to San Antonio to join the Lone Star Gunfighters before ultimately assuming command of what would later become known as the 149th FW.
A former command chief at the 149th FW remembers being impressed with
Quist’s flying ability back when he was stationed here as a young airman under the colonel’s command.
“Back then, all at the same time, on this base, we had five different aircraft here — the T-33, U-3, C-54, T-29 and F-100 — and he flew them all,” said retired Chief Master Sgt. Ed Hobbs, pausing to let the effect of that statement sink in. “That was something that probably only two or three people did. He could’ve flown them all on the same day, and I think he was the only person on base that did that — the only one that flew all five." Then after another pause, he continued, "and to stay current in five different airframes simultaneously is remarkable.”
Another former command chief, also here while Quist was commander, added his sentiments. “He was a good guy, and I think everyone really looked up to him,” said retired Chief Master Sgt. William Sivells Jr.
“I know that two years before he retired, he was offered a general officer’s position and he turned it down because he didn’t want to be anything but a group commander. Most 0-6s would not turn down a general officer position.”
According to Quist’s son, retired Army Col. Terry Quist, becoming a general
was not the most important thing for his dad, and the former commander
was not “groomed in the fashion of most post-war modern major generals.”
Hobbs and Sivells explained that back in those days, he was one of the only
0-6s on base, which gave him a “godlike” status among airmen; yet, both
men said that status never came across as anything intimidating — something Hobbs speculates resulted from Quist’s lack of self-importance.
“He didn’t look down on anybody,” Hobbs said. “He never had a formal education like some of his peers, so he seemed more in tune to the average airman turning a wrench.”
Whatever the reason, the wing flourished under Quist’s leadership. From winning air-to-air competitions to superior ratings, the 11 years under Quist’s command were marked by triumphs and accolades.
Blacksheare, one of Quist’s best friends, eulogized his friend with praise: “Surely God smiled on us when He gave us Colonel Quist. He was loved and respected by all. Without his influence, there can be little doubt the achievements of his subordinates, mine in particular, would be far less.”
But perhaps the most telling form of a life successfully lived is what your family says of you once you are gone.
Terry, Quist’s son, sums it up this way: “There is a mixture of pride in his accomplishments and the deep hole that we all feel when we realize we’re not going to talk to that person again.”
| Date Taken: | 04.25.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 08.05.2018 12:42 |
| Story ID: | 287302 |
| Location: | SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 88 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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