Retired U.S. Air Force Gen. Norton Schwartz, former Chief of Staff of the Air Force, reads his Order of the Sword nomination plaque. Photo by Airman 1st Class Christopher Williams.
In an expression of appreciation, the enlisted airmen of Air Force Special Operations Command nominated retired Gen. Norton Schwartz, former Air Force chief of staff, for “The Order of the Sword.”
The award recognizes officers “for conspicuous and significant contributions to the welfare and prestige of the Air Force enlisted force,” according to an Air Force news story.
To accept the nomination, Schwartz and his wife Suzie traveled to Hurlburt Field, Fla., where 300 airmen lined the road along the distinguished visitor quarter’s parking lot, the news story says.
“It all started for us here in the fall of 1980,” said Schwartz, a former special operations commander. “For those of who you don’t think that amazing things can happen in our Air Force, this is proof. You’re in a wonderful business. People know that if someone does bad things to America, this community will find them and make them pay. Do it professionally, do it discreetly, do it without fanfare – you just do it. That’s what you’re a part of — all of you. It doesn’t matter what discipline – everybody counts, especially in special operations.”
Schwartz will be formally inducted into the Order of the Sword on Feb. 1 at the Emerald Coast Conference Center in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
