Herbert Harlan Kaiser
January 23, 1932 ~ September 25, 2011
Herbert H. Kaiser, Jr., passed away peacefully after a long illness on October 25, 2011, in Fairfax, Virginia, at age 79. He was born January 23, 1932 in Decatur, Illinois to Herbert H. Kaiser, Sr. and Dorothy Dennis Kaiser. A graduate of Monticello High School, Mr. Kaiser attended the University of Paris from 1951 to 1952. He graduated from Yale University in 1953, from Harvard Law School in 1960, and received an M.B.A. from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C. in 1968.
Enlisting in the Air Force in 1953, following his graduation from Yale, he served as a loadmaster on C-119s and C-124s with the 4th and 5th Aerial Port Operations Squadrons, Donaldson Air Force Base, S.C. He was subsequently selected for Officer Candidate School and commissioned in December 1954. Later he was assigned to the 7499th Support Group, Wiesbaden Air Base, Germany, as an intelligence officer until released from active duty in 1957 to attend Harvard Law School. He continued his Air Force affiliation for the next thirty years as a member of the ready reserve, and was recalled to active duty several more times before his retirement as a Brigadier General in 1987.
In 1967 he was recalled to attend the Air Command and Staff College in residence, and was the first Reserve officer named a Distinguished Graduate. Thereafter, he commanded reserve detachments of the Air Force Intelligence Service in Selfridge, ANGB, MI; Wright-Patterson AFB, OH; Langley AFB, VA: and the National Capital Area, Washington, D.C. He was also recalled during OPERATION HOMECOMING in 1973 to debrief Air Force prisoners of war returning from North Vietnam. In 1977 he was selected to attend the National War College, Washington, D.C., the second Air Force Reserve officer to do so. He received the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (military) upon his military retirement in 1987.
In civilian life, Mr. Kaiser combined his military background with his legal training in positions with the Department of Defense, ending his career as the Deputy for Facility Programs in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force at the Pentagon. Earlier in his career, Mr. Kaiser practiced law and held corporate and public-sector positions with an international focus. When he retired in 1992, he received the Air Force Exceptional Civilian Service Medal.
After retirement from government service, Mr. Kaiser served as President of Kaiser Abstract Company and Shelby County Land Title Corporation, a family-owned title insurance business in his home town of Monticello, Illinois.
He is survived by his widow, Barbara R. Kaiser of McLean, VA; his two daughters Lisa Kaiser of Alexandria, VA and Betsy McIntyre of Washington, D.C; and his two grandchildren Bruce and Kay McIntyre.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Parkinson Foundation c/o Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 5018, Hagerstown, MD 21741 or make a donation online at www.parkinson.org .
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
Enlisting in the Air Force in 1953, following his graduation from Yale, he served as a loadmaster on C-119s and C-124s with the 4th and 5th Aerial Port Operations Squadrons, Donaldson Air Force Base, S.C. He was subsequently selected for Officer Candidate School and commissioned in December 1954. Later he was assigned to the 7499th Support Group, Wiesbaden Air Base, Germany, as an intelligence officer until released from active duty in 1957 to attend Harvard Law School. He continued his Air Force affiliation for the next thirty years as a member of the ready reserve, and was recalled to active duty several more times before his retirement as a Brigadier General in 1987.
In 1967 he was recalled to attend the Air Command and Staff College in residence, and was the first Reserve officer named a Distinguished Graduate. Thereafter, he commanded reserve detachments of the Air Force Intelligence Service in Selfridge, ANGB, MI; Wright-Patterson AFB, OH; Langley AFB, VA: and the National Capital Area, Washington, D.C. He was also recalled during OPERATION HOMECOMING in 1973 to debrief Air Force prisoners of war returning from North Vietnam. In 1977 he was selected to attend the National War College, Washington, D.C., the second Air Force Reserve officer to do so. He received the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (military) upon his military retirement in 1987.
In civilian life, Mr. Kaiser combined his military background with his legal training in positions with the Department of Defense, ending his career as the Deputy for Facility Programs in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force at the Pentagon. Earlier in his career, Mr. Kaiser practiced law and held corporate and public-sector positions with an international focus. When he retired in 1992, he received the Air Force Exceptional Civilian Service Medal.
After retirement from government service, Mr. Kaiser served as President of Kaiser Abstract Company and Shelby County Land Title Corporation, a family-owned title insurance business in his home town of Monticello, Illinois.
He is survived by his widow, Barbara R. Kaiser of McLean, VA; his two daughters Lisa Kaiser of Alexandria, VA and Betsy McIntyre of Washington, D.C; and his two grandchildren Bruce and Kay McIntyre.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Parkinson Foundation c/o Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 5018, Hagerstown, MD 21741 or make a donation online at www.parkinson.org .
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
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FOR LISA, PLEASE KNOW THAT YOUR FATHER WAS BOTH A ROLE MODEL AND MENTOR TO ME AS A YOUNGER MAN. BECAUSE OF HIS INTELLECTUAL-ACADEMIC SKILLS, I NEVER KNEW THAT HE HAD ALSO BEEN AN ENLISTED MAN UNTIL NOW. PLEASE VISIT US IN FREDERICK, MARYLAND AT 103 AND 105 COUNCIL STREET SOON. WE ARE RIGHT NEXT TO CITY HALL. WITH LOVE, THE MICHEL FAMILY.
Dear Kaiser Family, Our deepest condolences on the recent loss of our friend and comrade Brigadier General Kaiser. Herb served his Country exceptionally well in both his USAF and Senior Civil Service posts over many years. He was a stalwart friend, mentor and role model. I will greatly miss his thoughtful demeanor and his reaching out both to accomplish the mission and to counsel and support others. We will miss him and will always remember him. Warm regards and V/R, Brigadier General John A. Hurley, USAFR-ret and Eileen H. Hurley Alexandria, VA