Norman J. de Back
October 1, 1931 - August 3, 2015
True American Hero: Major General Norman John de Back.
After 83 extraordinary years, Major General Norman J. de Back passed on August 3, 2015, at home with his loving wife of 57 years, Pat, by his side. Norm is survived by his loving children, Michael, wife Maureen, Stacey and husband Bryce MacDonald, daughter Tara, his six adoring grandchildren, Mekenna, Austin, Sarah, Chase, Wyatt, and Lucas, and the newest member of the family, Apollo (puppy).
Major General de Back was born October 1, 1931, in San Francisco and graduated from San Ramon High School, Danville, CA, in 1949. Norm worked his way through school graduating from Stanford University, Class of 1953, played football and became a member of fraternity Delta Tau Delta. Upon graduation, he attended the graduate school of business at the University of California Berkeley. He completed the Academic Instructor School in 1960, Squadron Officer School in 1963, Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1976, National Security Seminars in 1975, 1976, and 1977, Senior Reserve Component Officer Course for General Purpose Forces and Rapid Deployment Exercise, and Personnel Management Systems at the Air War College in 1983.
He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in June 1953 through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps. Program at Stanford University and was called to active duty in August of that year. Norm attended pilot training at Bainbridge Air Base, GA, and received his wings at Laredo Air Force Base, TX, in April of 1954. After completing gunnery schools at Laughlin Air Force Base, TX, and Nellis Air Force Base, NV, he was assigned in June 1955 to Osan Air Base, South Korea, with the 311th FighterBomber Squadron as an F-86F fighter pilot. The 311th was the first squadron deployed to Tainan Air Station, Taiwan, in support of the Quemoy uprising.
Returning to the U.S. in July 1956, he was assigned to Williams Air Force Base, AZ, as a gunnery and instrument flight instructor, flying T-33s, F-86s and F-100s. He also flew as a functional flight check pilot. From September 1959 to September 1964 he was an Air Force Reserve Training Officer Training Corps assistant professor at the University of California Berkeley. After his release from active duty in 1964, General de Back joined the Air National Guard in Peoria, IL as an F-84F pilot and operations officer. In November 1965 he was assigned to the 22nd Air Force Military Airlift Command Post at Travis Air Force Base, CA, as a chief controller, and T39 and T-33 pilot. After spending time at both Hamilton and Mather AFB, he was assigned as mobilization assistant to the Commander in Chief of Pacific Air Force Base in Honolulu, Hawaii. In 1983, Norm achieved the rank of Brigadier General, and in 1988, was promoted to the rank of Major General.
General de Back was a command pilot with more than 26,000 flying hours, 4,000 in single-engine jet fighter aircraft. His military decorations and awards include the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, Combat Readiness Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Air Force Overseas Ribbon-Short, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon and United Nations Service Medal.
In his civilian capacity Norm joined United Airlines in 1964 and flew DC-6s, DC-8s, DC-10s, B-727s, B-737s and retired as a Captain in 1998. His civic affiliations include international advisory member of the Flight Safety Foundation, Commonwealth Club of California, Aeronautical Advisory Board of Indian Valley Colleges, Chairman of the Terra Linda High School Football Boosters, Delta Tau Delta fraternity alumni advisory council, Airline Pilots Association, Air Force Association and Reserve Officers Association.
When our dad wasn’t flying a jet, he was coaching one of his daughters’ basketball teams or announcing the football games for TLHS. Our Dad loved to travel, shop, vacation at Hale Koa in Honolulu with family, golf, watch football and basketball. He lived a rich and colorful retirement filled with the simple joys of family, devoted friends, good food and better wine. In retirement, he was also an active member of both the Retired United Pilots Association (RUPA) and Sons in Retirement (SIRS) organizations. Norm was a warrior and the patriarch of our family and he will be greatly missed by family and friends. We would like to thank Dr. Ron Witteles, MD, Cardiologist and Associate Professor of Medicine (Cardiovascular Medicine) at the Stanford University Medical Center and his team, for all of the dedicated care of our dad. They just don’t make them like General ‘Nomie John’ anymore, he was one of a kind...we love you so, Dad.
Friends and family are invited to First Presbyterian Church at 1510 5th Avenue, San Rafael, CA, at 11 AM on Thursday, August 13th, 2015. Burial to follow at Valley Memorial Park Cemetery in Novato, CA.
Arrangements to Keaton’s Redwood Chapel of Marin.