Alfred K. Flowers
| Alfred K. Flowers | |
|---|---|
Major General Alfred K. Flowers
|
|
| Born |
December 29, 1947 Jones County, North Carolina, U.S.A. |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Air Force
|
| Years of service | 1965–2011 |
| Rank |
 Major General
|
| Commands held | 2nd Air Force; Air Force Officer Accession and Training Schools |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards |
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit |
Alfred K. Flowers (born December 29, 1947) is a retired United States Air Force Major General who served in many roles, culminating as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Budget. At the time of his retirement, Flowers had served more than 46 years on active duty, making him the longest-serving airman in Air Force history and the longest serving African American in the history of the United States Department of Defense. Prior to his retirement, the enlisted members of Air Education and Training Command presented Flowers with the Order of the Sword, the Air Force enlisted force’s highest honor for officer leadership.
Flowers was born in Jones County, North Carolina on 29 December 1947. He was raised in rural Jones County near Phillips Crossroads. At the age of ten, he started working in the fields with his grandparents, who were sharecroppers. He graduated from Jones High School in 1965. Flowers could not afford to attend college so after graduating, he decided to enlist in the Air Force. Because he was only seventeen, his grandmother had to sign a release allowing him to enlist. Flowers entered the Air Force on 5 August 1965.
After completing basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, Flowers was assigned to duty as a supply warehouseman at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. After two years at Grand Forks, he was retransferred into the air transportation career field and sent to Da Nang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam. At Da Nang, Flowers was responsible for collecting casualties, hauling wounded and deceased soldiers out of the jungle at night.
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