Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz pay their respects Oct. 3, 2011, at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., during the full-honors funeral of retired Maj. Gen. John Alison.

Alison was a war hero and founding father of the Air Force, special operations forces, having served with the Flying Tigers‚ 75th Fighter Squadron and the 1st Air Commando Group during World War II.

U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Raymond Mills