Memorial Page

 



 		  

Raymond Leon Balcer, age 78, passed away on Saturday, October 4, 2008 in San Antonio, Texas.  Born in Ponca City, Oklahoma, on May 17, 1930, Raymond was the son of Leo and Emma Von Elm Balcer.  Mr. Balcer, a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, received a Bronze Star Medal, a Meritorious Service Medal, and two Legion of Merit Medals.  Mr. Balcer was also active in Fair Oaks Ranch City government and was the longest serving alderman on the city council.  He was preceded in death by his parents and first wife Charlene Powell Balcer.  He is survived by his wife Ruth Ann Loy Balcer; children, Brent Balcer and his wife Ellen, Brenda Balcer, Kim Balcer Quade and her husband Jeff, Becky Balcer Caplener and her husband Russell; step- children, Robert Butler, Dianne Finke and her husband Todd; brother, Don Balcer and his wife Carol; grandchildren, August Balcer, Emma Balcer, William Quade, Connor Quade, Aaron Caplener, Jake Butler, Alese Butler and Dalton Finke.  There was be a memorial service on Friday, October 17 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, at 9:30 a.m.  Procession to Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery followed the service.  In lieu of flowers the family requested donations be made in Mr. Balcer’s honor to Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, Dept. WEB, P.O. Box 307, Maryknoll, NY. 10545-0307.  

Ray Balcer was Honors Graduate from the ROTC program at Oklahoma A & M (now Oklahoma State)  In recognition of his achievement, Ray was granted a direct commission into the regular Air Force, rather than the normal reserve commission.
Upon his arrival at Offutt AFB, Nebraska, Ray was assigned duties as the first OIC of Detachment A, 3902nd APS, soon to be the SAC Elite Guard.  "Col. B" was highly revered by all who worked for him or knew of him. 


                       

            Ray Balcer, the first designated Officer in Charge of Detachment A, 3902nd APS (soon to be known as the SAC Elite Guard) was born in Ponca City, Oklahoma the son of Leo and Emma Von Elm Balcer.

            Ray Balcer was Honors Graduate from the ROTC program at Oklahoma A & M (now Oklahoma State)  In recognition of his achievement, Ray was granted a regular commission in the Air Force, rather than the normal reserve commission.

            Upon his assignment to Offutt AFB, Ray Balcer joined the staff of Major Herbert L Meyer, Deputy Commander for Security/Law Enforcement for the 3902nd Air Base Wing.   It was at this time that General Curtis LeMay restated his desires for an elite guard force for the Headquarters and when the SAC Provost Marshal of that day did not move fast enough in this area, he was replaced.

            The project was then given to Lt/Col. Charles Conway and Lt/Col (then Major) Jim Black of the Headquarters Provost Marshal staff. This team of officers, in conjunction with Captain Ray Balcer and Major Meyer , came up with the uniform and accouterments currently worn by the SAC guard and drill team except for the shade 193 shirt and trousers and blue wool shirt which were procured some time later. The special items of equipment were procured from appropriated. funds via certain nefarious negotiations in coordination with Headquarters SAC materiel people. Captain James McGee (then Lt) of the Headquarters Provost Marshal staff and Captain Ray Balcer of my staff then worked up the changing of the guard ceremony. Field maintenance shops on Offutt fabricated the shield used in this ceremony. Several months after activation of the new SAC Headquarters by late spring of 1957 the unit was operational with an elite guard and drill team.  At that time, Lt Ray Balcer was formally designated as OIC.

            The Elite Guard was  truly a unique organization within the USAF.  Its establishment was precedent setting; particularly noteworthy was a charter that:

1.        Authorized command wide recruitment for its membership.

2.        Created a unique uniform – “one of a kind” which has never been replicated.

3.        Authorized the blue beret as its headgear.  This became the prototype for the headgear now used by all security forces Air Force wide.

4.        First to transition to the 38 caliber revolver as its side arm from the traditional 45 caliber automatic pistol.

5.        Became a prototype for innovative security measures introduced by SAC to counter espionage and sabotage threats. 

            Ray Balcer left the Air Police Career field during the 1960’s finishing his career in the field of Manpower Resources. 

            When Colonel Balcer retired, he was the recipient of the Bronze Start, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Legion of Merit w/ oak leaf cluster.
 

 Submitted by John Achelpohl