Col. Howard Ayers, Sr., 86, a retired Army colonel and former member of General Douglas MacArthur's staff, died Saturday morning April, 19, 1986, in Regency Place. He was born July 26, 1899, at Columbus, IN. He entered Purdue University in 1917, but his studies were interrupted for a time in 1918 when he served in World War I. He returned to Purdue and received bachelor's degrees in mechanical and electrical engineering. He also earned a master's degree in August, 1925. Upon graduation, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army. He was awarded his professional engineering degree from Purdue in 1956.
After graduation, he went to work for Northern Indiana Gas and Electric Co. In 1940, he was called to active duty as a major in the Army and was assigned to Purdue. After World War II broke out, he equipped and trained troops in tank warfare. In 1944, he became chief of the Prisoner of War Branch. He attended Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, KS, and also the War College. He was then assigned to Gen. MacArthur in Manila and remained with him during the occupation of Japan.
With his background in engineering, he was given the task of rebuilding the power industry in all of Japan. When that was completed, he was sent to rebuild utilities on Okinawa, and he also made a power survey for the government of India in 1951.
Colonel Ayers returned to the United States in 1952 and was stationed at the Pentagon. When the National Security Agency was established, he became Chief of COMSEC Engineering, a position he held until his retirement in 1965.
In 1983, he was summoned by several utility companies of Japan to return to their country to receive their thanks. To express their gratitude and appreciation from the emperor, the Japanese government and its people, Colonel Ayers was awarded "The Order of the Rising Sun".
Col. Ayers was a life member of Purdue Alumni Association. While at Purdue, he was a member of Acacia fraternity; Scabbard and Blade; president of Emersonian Literary Society; and was on the varsity baseball, pistol and fencing teams. He also was cadet senior colonel.
He was married in 1923 to Sarah B. Hege, who survives along with a son, Howard Ayers, Jr. of Shelbyville; a daughter, Patricia (Mrs. Michael) Gallucci of Los Angeles, CA; and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, John, in March.
--Lafayette Journal & Courier - Mon 4/21/1986
After graduation, he went to work for Northern Indiana Gas and Electric Co. In 1940, he was called to active duty as a major in the Army and was assigned to Purdue. After World War II broke out, he equipped and trained troops in tank warfare. In 1944, he became chief of the Prisoner of War Branch. He attended Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, KS, and also the War College. He was then assigned to Gen. MacArthur in Manila and remained with him during the occupation of Japan.
With his background in engineering, he was given the task of rebuilding the power industry in all of Japan. When that was completed, he was sent to rebuild utilities on Okinawa, and he also made a power survey for the government of India in 1951.
Colonel Ayers returned to the United States in 1952 and was stationed at the Pentagon. When the National Security Agency was established, he became Chief of COMSEC Engineering, a position he held until his retirement in 1965.
In 1983, he was summoned by several utility companies of Japan to return to their country to receive their thanks. To express their gratitude and appreciation from the emperor, the Japanese government and its people, Colonel Ayers was awarded "The Order of the Rising Sun".
Col. Ayers was a life member of Purdue Alumni Association. While at Purdue, he was a member of Acacia fraternity; Scabbard and Blade; president of Emersonian Literary Society; and was on the varsity baseball, pistol and fencing teams. He also was cadet senior colonel.
He was married in 1923 to Sarah B. Hege, who survives along with a son, Howard Ayers, Jr. of Shelbyville; a daughter, Patricia (Mrs. Michael) Gallucci of Los Angeles, CA; and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, John, in March.
--Lafayette Journal & Courier - Mon 4/21/1986
Col. Howard Ayers, Sr., 86, a retired Army colonel and former member of General Douglas MacArthur's staff, died Saturday morning April, 19, 1986, in Regency Place. He was born July 26, 1899, at Columbus, IN. He entered Purdue University in 1917, but his studies were interrupted for a time in 1918 when he served in World War I. He returned to Purdue and received bachelor's degrees in mechanical and electrical engineering. He also earned a master's degree in August, 1925. Upon graduation, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army. He was awarded his professional engineering degree from Purdue in 1956.
After graduation, he went to work for Northern Indiana Gas and Electric Co. In 1940, he was called to active duty as a major in the Army and was assigned to Purdue. After World War II broke out, he equipped and trained troops in tank warfare. In 1944, he became chief of the Prisoner of War Branch. He attended Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, KS, and also the War College. He was then assigned to Gen. MacArthur in Manila and remained with him during the occupation of Japan.
With his background in engineering, he was given the task of rebuilding the power industry in all of Japan. When that was completed, he was sent to rebuild utilities on Okinawa, and he also made a power survey for the government of India in 1951.
Colonel Ayers returned to the United States in 1952 and was stationed at the Pentagon. When the National Security Agency was established, he became Chief of COMSEC Engineering, a position he held until his retirement in 1965.
In 1983, he was summoned by several utility companies of Japan to return to their country to receive their thanks. To express their gratitude and appreciation from the emperor, the Japanese government and its people, Colonel Ayers was awarded "The Order of the Rising Sun".
Col. Ayers was a life member of Purdue Alumni Association. While at Purdue, he was a member of Acacia fraternity; Scabbard and Blade; president of Emersonian Literary Society; and was on the varsity baseball, pistol and fencing teams. He also was cadet senior colonel.
He was married in 1923 to Sarah B. Hege, who survives along with a son, Howard Ayers, Jr. of Shelbyville; a daughter, Patricia (Mrs. Michael) Gallucci of Los Angeles, CA; and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, John, in March.
--Lafayette Journal & Courier - Mon 4/21/1986
After graduation, he went to work for Northern Indiana Gas and Electric Co. In 1940, he was called to active duty as a major in the Army and was assigned to Purdue. After World War II broke out, he equipped and trained troops in tank warfare. In 1944, he became chief of the Prisoner of War Branch. He attended Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, KS, and also the War College. He was then assigned to Gen. MacArthur in Manila and remained with him during the occupation of Japan.
With his background in engineering, he was given the task of rebuilding the power industry in all of Japan. When that was completed, he was sent to rebuild utilities on Okinawa, and he also made a power survey for the government of India in 1951.
Colonel Ayers returned to the United States in 1952 and was stationed at the Pentagon. When the National Security Agency was established, he became Chief of COMSEC Engineering, a position he held until his retirement in 1965.
In 1983, he was summoned by several utility companies of Japan to return to their country to receive their thanks. To express their gratitude and appreciation from the emperor, the Japanese government and its people, Colonel Ayers was awarded "The Order of the Rising Sun".
Col. Ayers was a life member of Purdue Alumni Association. While at Purdue, he was a member of Acacia fraternity; Scabbard and Blade; president of Emersonian Literary Society; and was on the varsity baseball, pistol and fencing teams. He also was cadet senior colonel.
He was married in 1923 to Sarah B. Hege, who survives along with a son, Howard Ayers, Jr. of Shelbyville; a daughter, Patricia (Mrs. Michael) Gallucci of Los Angeles, CA; and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, John, in March.
--Lafayette Journal & Courier - Mon 4/21/1986
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