During his lifetime, Colonel William C. McChord witnessed and took part in the birth of military aviation. The name of McChord Air Force Base is a fitting tribute to a man who lived and died doing what we do best: flying in the service of our country.

Colonel McChord was born Dec. 29, 1881, in Lebanon,Ky. He attended the United States Military Academy, where he earned a commission as a second lieutenant in the cavalry, on June 14, 1907. He received his flying training at Rockwell Field, Calif., and was rated a Junior Military Aviator on May 31, 1918.

After completing a course in Bombardment Aviation at Ellington Field, Houston, Texas, and commanding for brief periods of time at Park Field, Tenn., and Gerstner Field, La., he was transferred in March 1919, to the Office of the Director of Air Service,Washington, D.C. There he served in various capacities; duty in the Finance Section of the Supply Group, a member of the Air Service Claims Board, assistant to the Chief of the Materials Disposal and Salvage Division of the Supply Group, and Assistant to the Chief of the Property Division of the Supply Group.

In July 1920, Colonel McChord served as Air Officer of the Central Department (later the 6th Corps Area), for two years. He then completed the Air Corps Tactical, and Command and General Staff School courses of instruction. He went on to command Chanute Field, Ill., and was Commandant of the Air Corps Technical School at the field until early in 1928 when he was transferred to the Advanced Flying School, Kelly Field, Texas. There, he completed the Special Observers course, and received the rating of "Airplane Observer" as of June 25, 1928.