Lt. Gen. George E. Schafer

Lieutenant General (Doctor) George E. Schafer, age 92, passed away January 23, 2015. He was born August 9, 1922 in Cincinnati, Ohio to Doctor Donald and Neoma Schafer. He is survived by his children Jeffery Schafer and his wife Charlene of Tucson, Arizona, Ann Johnson of Round Rock, Texas, Gwendolyn Kluthe and her husband Karl of Helotes, Texas and Sally Schuermann and her husband Jim of Round Rock. Texas, nine loving grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren with twin great grandchildren on the way. George was married to Marjorie Louise Hover. They were high school sweethearts in Fort Wayne, Indiana. They started their 71 years of married life on January 1, 1943 in Cincinnati, Ohio while George was attending Medical School at the University of Cincinnati. Marjorie passed away May 14, 2014. His family knows he died of a broken heart with her passing. George graduated from Medical School in 1946. He served his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital, Fort Wayne, Ind., 1946-1947, and completed three months of surgical residency before entering military service in the U.S. Air Force on July 5, 1947. He was assigned to the USAF School of Aviation Medicine, Randolph Field, Texas, where he completed the Aviation Medical Examiners course in September 1947, and the Aviation Physiologists course in November 1947. General Schafer then was assigned as flight surgeon, 4th Fighter Group, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. During this assignment, he completed the three-months cold weather test with the 4th Group in Alaska in 1948. In March 1949 he was assigned to the Office of the Surgeon, Headquarters Air Training Command, at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., as chief, Aviation Physiology Branch. In August 1950 he became chief, Aviation Medicine Division at ATC Headquarters, which had moved to Scott Air Force Base, Ill. From August 1952 to August 1956, General Schafer served overseas. First, he was chief, Aviation Medicine Division, Office of the Surgeon, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Wiesbaden, Germany. In September 1954 he became commander, 7330th USAF Hospital, Furstenfeldbruck Air Base, Germany, and surgeon, Headquarters Air Training Command (Provisional). General Schafer returned to the United States in August 1956 and attended the Public Health and Preventive Medicine Course at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md. In January 1957 he was assigned as Commander, USAF Hospital, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. He attended the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., from August 1961 to June 1962, and was selected as one of the outstanding graduates. From July 1962 to January 1969, General Schafer was at Brooks Air Force Base, Texas. He served first as assistant deputy chief of staff, research and development, and then as deputy chief of staff for operations in Headquarters Aerospace Medical Division. In November 1964 he became vice commander of the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine. In October 1965 he was appointed vice commander of the Aerospace Medical Division, and in July 1967 he assumed duties as commander of the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine. General Schafer went to the Republic of Vietnam in January 1969 and served as surgeon for the 7th Air Force at Tan Son Nhut Airfield. He returned to the United States in February 1970 and was assigned as deputy command surgeon for Military Airlift Command, with headquarters at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. In February 1971 he returned to Brooks Air Force Base for duty as commander of the Aerospace Medical Division, AFSC. In April 1975 General Schafer assumed duties as deputy Surgeon General, U.S. Air Force, a position he held until August 1975 when he became surgeon general. General Schafer was president of the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States; a past president of the Aerospace Medical Association and a fellow in Aviation Medicine; a past president of the Society of USAF Flight Surgeons; and a member of the American Medical Association and the American College of Preventive Medicine. General Schafer is board certified in Aerospace Medicine by the American Board of Preventive Medicine. He is the author of several professional publications in the field of aerospace medicine. He was the first flight surgeon to be assigned full time to a jet organization, the 4th Fighter Group, and in this capacity reported to the National Research Council on medical operational problems of such flying. General Schafer is rated as a chief flight surgeon. His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Good Conduct Medal, Korean order of National Security Merit Guk Seon Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross, the Republic of Vietnam Honor Aeronaut Command Wing Medal Award, Vietnam Service Medal with three service stars, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. He was promoted to the grade of lieutenant general on Aug. 1, 1975. Upon retirement from the Air Force he remained in Northern Virginia working in private industry until he decided to move back to his beloved San Antonio Texas. Lieutenant General Schafer loved his country and family. This great patriot and family man will be missed. He is now with his beloved Marge and for that we are comforted. SERVICE THURSDAY FEBRUARY 5, 2015 1:00 P.M. PORTER LORING CHAPEL Interment will follow in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.