He died of cancer in Malcolm Grow Medical Center at Andrews Air Force Base on July 3, 1994, at the age of 64.

He was the brother of Susan Hatfield of Canal Winchester, Ohio, and Margaret Bischoff of Antioch, Illinois.

He then joined the United States Air Force (USAF) as an aviation cadet.

Following assignments as an instructor, operations officer and aide-de-camp, he was stationed with the 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron at the Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base in 1966.

He was then posted as chief of the United States Military Training Mission to Saudi Arabia, prior to assuming command of the Fifth Air Force and United States Forces Japan at Yokota Air Base.