![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Harold-Decker-Display-edit.jpg\")
The dedication of the display of items from Decker\u2019s\nmilitary and academic careers culminates a two year-long effort by alumni and\ncurrent members of Gamma Chapter, Alpha Eta Rho, International Aviation\nFraternity, to honor the man whose lessons, mentorship and example they credit\nfor their own successful careers in the aviation industry and the foundation of\ntoday\u2019s School of Aviation program. Through the assistance of the Decker family\nand the Auburn University School of Aviation leadership and staff, the\ndisplay\u2014located on the second floor of the Delta Air Lines Aviation Education\nBuilding\u2014became a reality and now pays tribute to one of the most admired and\ninfluential members of the Auburn Family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Decker taught in the aviation management department from\n1965 until his retirement in 1978. Prior to that, he served 24 years in the\nUnited States Army Air Corps\/U.S. Air Force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A P-38 fighter pilot during World War II, Decker was shot\ndown over Tunisia, North Africa, was captured and spent two years as a prisoner\nof war in Stalag Luft 3 in Germany. During his captivity, he operated a\nsmuggled-in radio, receiving coded broadcasts from home to the leadership of\nthe camp\u2019s prisoner population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following the war, he was recognized for his bravery with\nthe award of the Bronze Star Medal for heroism. He continued his service to his\ncountry rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel before retiring in 1965.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Joining the Auburn University faculty in the Department of\nEngineering, he was soon appointed as head of the Aviation Management program.\nHe held that position for seven years, returning to full-time teaching for an\nadditional six years. He retired from Auburn in 1978, having completed 13 years\nof exemplary service. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Decker was a man with profound influence on his students and\nAuburn\u2019s aviation program. He was instrumental in the development of the\nAviation Management curriculum and laid the foundation for what is now the\npremier program of its type in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During his 13 years at Auburn, he served as not only as\nAviation Management program head, but also as faculty advisor for the Gamma\nChapter of the Alpha Eta Rho professional aviation fraternity and advisor to\nthe War Eagle Flying Team. He was also a tireless volunteer in the local\ncommunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Upon retiring in 1978, Decker remained in Auburn and\ncontinued his life of service through his leadership in his church, Kiwanis,\nBoy Scouts and numerous other community organizations. He passed away in August\n2009 at the age of 92.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The life and legacy of late Aviation Management Director and Engineering Associate Professor Emeritus Lt. Col. Harold R. Decker will live on thanks to a new display dedicated in his honor at the Delta Air Lines Aviation Education Building. Family, friends and alumni gathered on Feb. 4 to unveil the display, which features personal and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[26,98],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24790","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-alabama","category-aviation-education"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24790","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24790"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24790\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24792,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24790\/revisions\/24792"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24790"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24790"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24790"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}