Background
Vandenberg was born in Riverside, California in 1928. His father was General Hoyt Vandenberg and his great uncle was United States. Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg.
Vandenberg was born in Riverside, California in 1928. His father was General Hoyt Vandenberg and his great uncle was United States. Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg.
Vandenberg would obtain a Master of Surgery in International Relations from George Washington University in 1969. Vandenberg graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1951. He graduated from the Air Command and Staff College in 1961, after which he was assigned to the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing.
In 1953 Vandenberg was assigned to the 86th Fighter-Bomber Wing. Later he would serve as a flight commander with the 413th Tactical Fighter Wing and the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing. In 1963 Vandenberg was appointed Operations Officer with the 23rd Tactical Fighter Squadron.
During the Vietnam War Vandenberg commanded the 390th Tactical Fighter Squadron.
Upon returning stateside he was assigned to The Pentagon to work in the Office of the Director of Plans. He would graduate from the National War College in 1969 and return to The Pentagon to work with the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
In 1971 Vandenberg became commander of the 12th Flying Training Wing. Vandenberg was named Vice Commandant of Cadets at the United States Air Force Academy in 1972.
He would serve as Commandant from 1973 to 1975, during which time he assumed the rank of Brigadier General.
Vandenberg was ultimately named Vice Commander in Chief of the Pacific Air Forces. His retirement was effective as of January 1, 1981. In an interview with journalist David Leighton, published in the Arizona Daily Star newspaper, on May 27, 2014, Vandenberg shared this story about meeting well-known aviator Charles Lindbergh:
Aboard the aircraft was Charles Lindbergh, with whom I had an all-night visit.
He had refused a bunk and told me he had trouble sleeping over the Atlantic ever since his famous solo flight.
I wasn’t about to sleep and pass up the chance to talk to him. We talked all night. He was very interested in the type of girls that West Point graduates married.
lieutenant was almost as though he felt the offspring of graduates should perpetuate the sterling qualities embodied in our motto, “Duty, Honor, Country.”.