David Lee "Tex" Hill was born in Kwang Ju, Korea, on July 13, 1915. His missionary family returned to the US in 1916 and lived in Louisville, Kentucky, while his father was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. The family moved to Texas, and following college David entered Naval flight training at Pensacola. He earned his wings in November 1939 and flew carrier-based dive-bombers over the Atlantic.

In 1941, FDR secretly authorized Col. Claire Chennault to recruit US military pilots to serve a six-month civilian tour in combat in China. Hill joined this American Volunteer Group, 110 pilots who became the legend known as the Flying Tigers.

Chennault developed combat rules that turned the P-40's strengths against the Zeroes' weaknesses. Even with supply and logistical problems, by July 1942 they had destroyed 299 aircraft (with an additional 300 probables) while losing only eight pilots. Eventually, however, enemy ground forces closed the Burma Road, the supply route from India, and the AVG was disbanded at the end of the tour.

Hill accepted a commission in the new 23rd Fighter Group. Flying

P-51 Mustangs and P-38 Lightnings, by November '44 they had virtually cleared the China skies of Japanese aircraft. Following discharge, he joined the Texas Air National Guard; at 30, he was the youngest brigadier general in Guard history.

Tex Hill accumulated 2,400 flying hours, including 700 combat hours. He had a total of 18-1/4 victories. His military honors include American, British and Chinese decorations. In 2002, he received our nation's second-highest award, the Distinguished Service Cross, for valor in battle over enemy-held territory in China 60 years earlier.

A courageous leader against great odds, Tex Hill went to war before our American war was declared. Six months prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, he fought the Japanese air force - and became the second-leading Ace of the legendary Flying Tigers.