2nd Commander - 20th Air Force
Shade 193 Silver Tan Uniform 1949-1965

Major General Ralph F. Stearley was born July 25,1898 in Barzil, Indiana.  After graduation he remained at the academy until the following July, when he made a tour of battlefields in Europe.

Upon his return to the United States, he entered the Cavalry School (1919). After graduation he joined the 4th Cavalry. He then served the 1st Signal Troop of the 1st Cavalry (1923).

After flying training earning his rating of Airplane Pilot, he remained at Kelly Field for duty with the 3rd Attack Group. He was ordered to the Philippines for duty with the 4th Composite Group at Nichols Field (1928). He was again assigned to the 3rd Attack Group where he commanded the 13th Attack Squadron, Texas.

After more schooling and training he returned to Maxwell Field for a two-year tour as an instructor at the Air Corps Tactical School.

He served as assistant executive officer in the Training and Operations Division of the Office of the Chief of Air Corps in Washington, which later became the Flying Training Command (1940); Canadian-American Military Board (1942); chief of the Air Group of the Military Intelligence Service of the War Department General Staff in Washington, D.C.; director of Air Support at Army Air Forces headquarters (1943); command of the I Air Support Command at Morris Field; Ninth Air Force in the European theater as A-3,chief of operations (1944); assistant chief of staff for G-3 of the newly-organized First Allied Airborne Army; commanding general of the IX Tactical Air Command of the Ninth Air Force, which operated in France and Northern Germany(1945); commander of the Air Section, Fifteenth Army Theater General Board, in the European theater.

After WWII, he served as duty as deputy chief of the Legislative and Liaison Division of the War Department General Staff (1946); director of the Legislative and Liaison Division of the Directorate of Public Relations in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force (1948); commanding general of the Fourteenth Air Force at Orlando Air Force Base; commanding general of the Twentieth Air Force at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa until his retirement from the military.

His awards include Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Air Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, Commendation Medal and various foreign decorations.

He died at the age of 74 February 1, 1973.