Two-star general and B-52 commander receives Quilt of Valor
May 9, 2019
By W. Thomas Smith Jr.
Major General Thomas F. Rew, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), was singularly recognized and presented a hand-made quilt from the Quilts of Valor Foundation for his three-war military service, Wed., May 8, during ceremonies at Columbia’s Northeast Presbyterian Church.
Rew was joined by several members of his family, including two of his three sons – Fred Rew and Lt. Gen. Bill Rew, USAF (Ret.), an F-16 pilot and former vice commander of the USAF’s Air Combat Command in Langley. Also present were the elder Gen. Rew’s wife Carolyn, two daughters-in-law, a grandson, and numerous friends and well-wishers.
Maj. Gen. Rew served from 1940 until 1976, holding myriad commands, flying multiple aircraft, accumulating 8,000 flying hours, and receiving numerous awards and decorations including the Legion of Merit and the Distinguished Flying Cross.
One of the more climactic moments in Rew’s career was his command leadership during the Vietnam War, specifically LINEBACKER II – Dec. 18-Dec. 29, 1972 – said to be the largest heavy bomber operation launched by the U.S. Air Force since the end of World War II.
Battling North Vietnamese anti-aircraft fire, surface-to-air missiles and MiG fighters, U.S. Air Force B-52s bombers supported by USAF and Navy fighter-aircraft bombed key targets primarily over Hanoi and the industrial city of Hai Phong. In the end, 12 tactical aircraft were shot down. Sixteen B-52s were lost and another nine bombers damaged. Forty-three American airmen were killed, and another 49 were shot down and captured by the enemy.
Rew led the first wave of attacks over Hanoi.
“General Rew is the kind of warrior commander most people read about, but never meet much less really know on a personal level,” said Col. Bill Connor, a decorated U.S. Army infantry officer who attended the event honoring Rew. “Even at his advanced age, it is obvious that Gen. Rew still epitomizes all of the soldierly virtues; things like selflessness, humility and a strong commanding presence. And those are among some of the key virtues that would’ve been required in a commander tasked with leading men in such a high-stakes operation as Linebacker II was.”
Presenting the quilt was Anne Mixon, South Carolina state coordinator for the Quilts of Valor Foundation, and Rhonda Vitali, a member and volunteer quilter with the Foundation.
– For more information about Quilts of Valor, visit https://www.qovf.org/.
