Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame - BG Alfred P. Bunting

Brigadier General Bunting is a native of Kennett, Missouri where he enlisted in the United States Army at the age of 17 in February 1948. His Army service was as an Infantryman in both Korea and Japan as well as at Fort Ord, California and Fort Riley, Kansas.

He became a member of the 127th Fighter Bomber Squadron, Kansas Air National Guard in Wichita after completing his Army enlistment in March 1953. He subsequently was instrumental in the successful conversion of his unit to the F-80, F-86, F-100, and F-105 aircraft. Enlisting as a staff Sergeant (E-5), he ultimately attained the highest enlisted grade, of Chief Master Sergeant (E-9). Nine years after his enlistment with the 127th Fighter-Bomber Squadron he was appointed to the grade of 1st Lieutenant on 31 January 1962 and was assigned as Chief of Personnel. As Chief of Personnel, 184th TFG, Bunting coordinated with the host base to integrate the KSANG sports program into McConnell AFB’s recreational services. This afforded the members of the 184th the opportunity to share base resources and facilities. He then expanded on the success of the integration with the base to develop a similar program with the city of Wichita.

He was recalled to active duty, as a Captain, in January 1968, in reaction to the “Pueblo Incident” and served at Kunsan AB, Korea until his release from active duty in 1969.

In September 1972, he entered a tour of active duty at the National Guard Bureau, the Pentagon, as Chief of the Manpower and Organization Branch for the Air Directorate. Responsible for 22,500 air technicians, their distribution, budgetary assessments and allocations across 91 flying units and dozens of non-flying units.

General Bunting returned to Kansas in July 1977 and began his new assignment as Commander, 190th Combat Support Squadron, Kansas Air National Guard at Forbes Field, in Topeka. He served as Executive Support Staff Officer in the ANG State Headquarters from May 1978 through May 1980. During this assignment in concert with the Chief of Staff of the Army National Guard (Colonel Dick Eckert) he developed the concept, designed and gained legislative approval of the National Guard vehicle license plates.

He again entered a tour of active duty in the ANG National Guard Bureau on 1 June 1980 as Chief of the Manpower and Personnel Division for the Air Directorate. He, then, served as Chief of Staff from June 1983 through 31 August 1985. This position was created June 1983 and Bunting was the first person to hold the office. Recognizing that the Air National Guard had no program to provide awards for personnel recognition, he fought to establish the Awards and Decorations program enabling the State Adjutant General to authorize various medals. He also established a national level board for more significant medals. Bunting was instrumental in establishing the AGR program which enhanced the growth of the full time force to maintain sophisticated weapon systems.

Bunting returned to Kansas on 1 September 1985 and was appointed Assistant Adjutant General and Commander of the Kansas Air National Guard. He retired from the Air National Guard on 30 September 1990 and entered the Inactive Reserve at that time. He was ultimately honored by the NCOs under his command with the “Order of the Sword”. This honor dates back in history as the highest honor that can be bestowed on an officer by enlisted men and women.

General Bunting’s awards include Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal and numerous other State and National awards. He was inducted into the Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame on 5 November 2006.





			BG ALFRED P. BUNTING.
	Brigadier General Bunting is a native of Kennett, Missouri where he enlisted in the United States Army at the age of 17 in February 1948. His Army service was as an Infantryman in both Korea and Japan as well as at Fort Ord, California and Fort Riley, Kansas. He became a member of the 127th Fighter Bomber Squadron, Kansas Air National Guard in Wichita after completing his Army enlistment in March 1953. He subsequently was instrumental in the successful conversion of his unit to the F-80, F-86, F-100, and F-105 aircraft. Enlisting as a staff Sergeant (E-5), he ultimately attained the highest enlisted grade, of Chief Master Sergeant (E-9). Nine years after his enlistment with the 127th Fighter-Bomber Squadron he was appointed to the grade of 1st Lieutenant on 31 January 1962 and was assigned as Chief of Personnel. As Chief of Personnel, 184th TFG, Bunting coordinated with the host base to integrate the KSANG sports program into McConnell AFB’s recreational services. This afforded the members of the 184th the opportunity to share base resources and facilities. He then expanded on the success of the integration with the base to develop a similar program with the city of Wichita. He was recalled to active duty, as a Captain, in January 1968, in reaction to the “Pueblo Incident” and served at Kunsan AB, Korea until his release from active duty in 1969. In September 1972, he entered a tour of active duty at the National Guard Bureau, the Pentagon, as Chief of the Manpower and Organization Branch for the Air Directorate. Responsible for 22,500 air technicians, their distribution, budgetary assessments and allocations across 91 flying units and dozens of non-flying units. General Bunting returned to Kansas in July 1977 and began his new assignment as Commander, 190th Combat Support Squadron, Kansas Air National Guard at Forbes Field, in Topeka. He served as Executive Support Staff Officer in the ANG State Headquarters from May 1978 through May 1980. During this assignment in concert with the Chief of Staff of the Army National Guard (Colonel Dick Eckert) he developed the concept, designed and gained legislative approval of the National Guard vehicle license plates. He again entered a tour of active duty in the ANG National Guard Bureau on 1 June 1980 as Chief of the Manpower and Personnel Division for the Air Directorate. He, then, served as Chief of Staff from June 1983 through 31 August 1985. This position was created June 1983 and Bunting was the first person to hold the office. Recognizing that the Air National Guard had no program to provide awards for personnel recognition, he fought to establish the Awards and Decorations program enabling the State Adjutant General to authorize various medals. He also established a national level board for more significant medals. Bunting was instrumental in establishing the AGR program which enhanced the growth of the full time force to maintain sophisticated weapon systems. Bunting returned to Kansas on 1 September 1985 and was appointed Assistant Adjutant General and Commander of the Kansas Air National Guard. He retired from the Air National Guard on 30 September 1990 and entered the Inactive Reserve at that time. He was ultimately honored by the NCOs under his command with the “Order of the Sword”. This honor dates back in history as the highest honor that can be bestowed on an officer by enlisted men and women. General Bunting’s awards include Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal and numerous other State and National awards. He was inducted into the Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame on 5 November 2006.