An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Former Air Force Surgeon General passes away

  • Published
  • Air Force Surgeon General Public Affairs
FALLS CHURCH, Va. --  The Air Force Medical Service remembers retired Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Paul W. Myers, former Air Force Surgeon General, who passed away of natural causes on Nov. 25, 2013 in San Antonio, Texas.

Myers was the 10th surgeon general and sworn in on Aug. 1,1978 until July 31, 1982.  He officially retired on Dec. 1, 1983.

Myers was born in Schenectady, N.Y., in 1923. He attended Union College and later Albany Medical College, Albany, N.Y., where he received his doctorate of medicine in 1946. He served his internship at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady from April 1946 to June 1947.

Myers began his military career as an enlisted man in the U.S. Army in June 1943 and was released from active duty in 1945. He returned to active military duty as a commissioned officer in July 1949 and was assigned to the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York, where he served initially as medical officer to the corps of cadets and then as chief of the outpatient department until April 1951.

Upon completion of the primary course in aviation medicine at the U.S. Air Force School of Aviation Medicine, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, in June 1951, he served as chief of the professional services, Eastern Air Defense Force, Stewart Field, N.Y., until June 1952.

Myers completed his general surgery residency in June 1953 at the Ellis Hospital, Schenectady, N.Y. Upon completion of his neurosurgery residency at the Albany Medical Center, Albany, N.Y., in 1956, he was assigned to the 2349th U.S. Air Force Hospital, Parks Air Force Base, Calif., as chief of the Neurosurgery Service. In June 1958 Myers become director of neurological surgery at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

In April 1971 Myers was appointed commander of Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center, a position he held until August 1978 when he became surgeon general.

He was a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Military Neurosurgical Society of America, Society of Air Force Clinical Surgeons, Southern Neurosurgical Society, American Medical Association, Pan American Medical Association, Association of Neurological Surgeons and the San Antonio Surgical Society. He was a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Myers was a diplomat of the American Board of Neurological Surgery.

Myers was a member of the land-based medical recovery forces of Project Mercury and participated in the post-flight medical debriefing of the astronauts. He was the author and co-author of numerous professional articles.

His alma mater, Albany Medical College, has honored him on two occasions. He became a member of Alpha Omega Alpha in 1966, and on May 5, 1973, he received the Alumni Honorary Award.

His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award ribbon with oak leaf cluster and the honor decoration for the Causa de la Fuerza de Chile.