Alton D. Slay

Alton D. Slay
Alton D. Slay
	General Alton D. Slay
Born	November 11, 1924; Crystal Springs, Mississippi
Died	November 16, 2015 (aged 91); Warrenton, Virginia
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1944–1981
Rank	General
Commands	Air Force Systems Command
Battles / wars	World War II; Korean War; Vietnam War;

General Alton Davis Slay, Sr. (November 11, 1924 – November 16, 2015) was a four star United States Air Force general and former commander, Air Force Systems Command, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland.

Slay was a native of Crystal Springs, Mississippi.^[1] He was a command pilot with more than 8,000 flying hours, principally in single-engine and jet fighter aircraft, accumulated since his graduation from flying school at Craig Field, Alabama, in 1944. He flew 181 combat missions over Southeast Asia in jet fighters. He was a graduate of the Navy Parachutist School and wore the Senior Air Force Parachutist Badge and the Senior Missileman Badge.

Slay was a 1965 graduate of George Washington University at Washington, D.C., with a degree in mathematics; he attended the six-week Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program; and the Canadian National Defence College.

His assignments included deputy chief of staff, research and development, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., vice commander of the Air Training Command, San Antonio, Texas; commander of the Lowry Technical Training Command, Denver; deputy chief of staff, operations, Seventh Air Force, in Southeast Asia; director of operations, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam; deputy chief of staff, operations, Air Force Systems Command; commander of the Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards Air Force Base, California; and assistant deputy chief of staff, plans and operations, U.S. Air Forces in Europe. He assumed command of Systems Command in March 1978, and was promoted to four star rank on April 1, 1978. Slay retired from the Air Force on January 31, 1981.

Awards and decorations

	US Air Force Command Pilot Badge
	Senior Missile Maintenance Badge
	Senior Parachutist Badge

	Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
	Legion of Merit with four oak leaf clusters
	Soldier's Medal
	Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
	Army Commendation Medal
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
	Combat Readiness Medal
	Army Good Conduct Medal
	American Campaign Medal
	World War II Victory Medal
	National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
	Korean Service Medal
	Vietnam Service Medal with three service stars
	Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
	Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
	Air Force Distinguished Service Order, 1st class (Vietnam)
	Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with palm
	Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal, 1st class
	United Nations Korea Medal
	Vietnam Campaign Medal

In 2005, Slay won four gold medals at the National Senior Games in cycling.^[2] As of 2007, at age 83, he was still competing in the Senior Games cycling events.^[3] He resided in Warrenton, Virginia until he died of blood cancer on November 16, 2015, 5 days after his 91st birthday.^[4]

References

^ "Alton D. Slay 1924 - Google Search". www.google.com.
^ "Colonial Cable August 2005 George Washington University alumni newsletter". Archived from the original on 2013-09-02.
^ "National Senior Games roster 2007" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2007-07-25.
^ "Alton Slay, Sr. Obituary, Warrenton, VA | Moser Funeral Home Inc., Warrenton, Virginia". Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2015-12-15.

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[1] "Alton D. Slay 1924 - Google Search". www.google.com.

[2] "Colonial Cable August 2005 George Washington University alumni newsletter". Archived from the original on 2013-09-02.

[3] "National Senior Games roster 2007" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2007-07-25.

[4] "Alton Slay, Sr. Obituary, Warrenton, VA | Moser Funeral Home Inc., Warrenton, Virginia". Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2015-12-15.

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