Doug Yates was born in Concordia, Kentucky in 1931. Attended Mead County High School where he played all varsity sports. At WKU, joined the AFROTC, and lettered in baseball all four years. Upon graduation in 1954, he was commissioned a 2nd Lt, and entered Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training. Graduating 2nd in his class, he received the only fighter aircraft assignment and proceeded to gunnery school flying the F-84G. After assignment to Spangdahlem, Germany & later to Phalsbourg AB, France. He went on to Shaw AFB as Wing Standardization /Evaluation Officer. He flew reconnaissance missions over Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis and earned his first Air Medal. Worked with Chinese Air Force in Taiwan, then to Okinawa, Japan where he got his first taste of combat over North Vietnam. Helped develop and document tactics to reduce the high loss rates experienced by reconnaissance aircrews. Volunteered for a second tour and was assigned to HQ 7th Air Force to further monitor, evaluate, and develop these tactics. He flew 177 combat missions. After his time in Vietnam, was stationed at Headquarters 12th Air Force for more refining of reconnaissance standards and tactics; Operations Officer 10th and 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadrons; and then back to Europe as Squadron Commander 32nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Alconbury RAFB, England. He took a unit that had recently failed an inspection and molded it into one considered to be the best in NATO for the next two years. He was promoted to Colonel and advanced to Wing Director of Operations then Vice Wing Commander. In 1977, Yates returned to Kentucky as Senior Air Force Advisor, 123rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Kentucky Air National Guard. While he served in this position, all of the reconnaissance units under the wing, improved to a rating of "Excellent" with the 123rd Wing receiving an unprecedented "Outstanding" rating.