Mele "Mel" Vojvodich

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Mele Vojvodich Jr. (March 28, 1929 – November 3, 2003) was a major general in the United States Air Force.

He was born on in Steubenville, Ohio, of Serbian ancestry. He graduated from Winterville High School. Vojvodich received his pilot wings in 1950 from Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. Six years later, he graduated from Squadron Officer School at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. During 1971, he completed his studies at National War College Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington DC.

Vojvodich served as F-84 pilot and aircraft commander in the early 1950s at Turner Air Force Base in Georgia. He then saw action in South Korea, flying F-80's and F-86's. Also, Vojvodich made a 300 mile surveillance flight into China searching for Soviet-made bombers. In all, Vojvodich flew 125 combat missions. He is also one of only five initial pilots who flew the CIA's spy plane (A-12) in North Vietnam. His time spent in the air was a total of 6,000 flying hours. On May 1, 1980, Vojvodich was promoted to major general.

Some of his worthy military awards include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross and the Intelligence Star for Valor presented by the CIA. He retired in March 1983.

Maj. Gen Vojvodich died at his home in Schertz, Texas after suffering from leukemia.