Lieutenant Colonel Alston excelled as a fighter pilot, beginning with an F-86 and subsequently flying many other models throughout his career.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT, December 09, 2022 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present Lieutenant Colonel Harold R. Alston with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. An accomplished listee, Mr. Alston celebrates many years' experience in his professional network, and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes he has accrued in his field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Having proudly served his country in the U.S. Air Force for 28 years, Lieutenant Colonel Alston excelled as a fighter pilot, beginning with an F-86 and subsequently flying many other models throughout his career. Originally enlisting in the Utah Air National Guard after high school to avoid being drafted into the Vietnam War, he began as an enlisted man and was eventually accepted into the military's pilot training program. Flying airplanes came easy for Mr. Alston and his experience in the National Guard led him to become active, serving combat deployments in both Vietnam and Thailand. During his tenure, he accumulated a total of 136 combat missions, more than 100 of which were over North Vietnam. Mr. Alston's aptitude for airplanes also led to him to become a successful maintenance test pilot.
After his many years in combat, Mr. Alston trained numerous U.S. Air Force and other pilots. He also trained a multitude of U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and foreign pilots in aerial combat as the commander of the 65th Aggressor Squadron. In 2021, Mr. Alston authored his first book, "Why Do I Find Myself in These Situations?" via Christian Faith Publishing Inc.
An inspirational leader in the military, Mr. Alston's incredible influence also inspired all four of his sons to become professional pilots. Two of them entered into the U.S. Air Force through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at their university, flew fighter jets, and are now retired. However, one of them remains a captain for Delta Air Lines. Mr. Alston's other two sons enjoy flying gliders and sailplanes, including his youngest who applied for the U.S. Air Force but, because there were no slots available at the time of his college graduation, instead became a corporate pilot who flies internationally. Besides his sons' vested interest in flying, Mr. Alston's brother-in-law was a U.S. Air Force pilot and a huge inspiration to him while coming of age as a teenager.
Mr. Alston graduated from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, the Canadian Forces Staff College, and the Air Force Command and Staff College. He also earned a four-year degree at the University of Utah in 1962.
Among his many accomplishments, Mr. Alston was notably the first pilot in the U.S. Air Force to fly 100 missions over North Vietnam in the F-104 Starfighter. He also became a flight leader leading four airplanes during his fifth flight in combat. He was the most junior pilot in the squadron at the time. Recognizing his contributions, Mr. Alston was decorated with 12 Combat Air Medals between 1965 and 1966, a Distinguished Flying Cross in 196, and a Meritorious Service Medal in 1970.
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