VA Secretary Robert Wilkie today released the following statement on the death of Chuck Yeager:
“Chuck Yeager will forever be known as the first to break the sound barrier in 1947, in an experimental rocket plane named after his wife.
“But let us not forget Yeager’s brave life of service to this country in wartime. Yeager was a shining example of how love of country can propel ordinary Americans to do extraordinary things.
“When Yeager first tried to become a pilot, he didn’t meet the educational requirements to receive flight training. But when World War II broke out, he proved he had the right stuff. He would bring down more than 10 German planes during the war, including five in one day. Yeager would fly missions in Korea and Vietnam, and after his retirement, he would continue to serve his country as a consultant and test pilot.
“When President Reagan awarded him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1985, he called Yeager ‘a hero in war and peace.’
“Yeager, whose humble demeanor is so often a trait of America’s greatest heroes, said in 2011 of his exploits, ‘You do it because it’s your duty. It’s your job.’
“Today we thank God for Americans like Chuck Yeager and mourn the passing of this American hero.”
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