Edwin R. Chess

Edwin R. Chess
Edwin R. Chess
	Chicago, Illinois
Died	June 12, 2000 (aged 87); San Antonio, Texas
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Air Force
Rank	Major general
Commands held	Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force

Edwin Ralph Chess (February 12, 1913 – June 12, 2000) was a major general and Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force.

Early life

He was born Edwin R. Czeslawski in

Roman Catholic priest on April 3, 1937.^[1] In 1962, he was given the title of monsignor by Pope John XXIII.^[1]

Career

Chess was originally commissioned an officer in the United States Army Reserve in 1942. He would serve in World War II with the 47th Bombardment Group, the 57th Bombardment Wing and the Twelfth Air Force. In 1946, he was released from active duty.

Edwin's brother Technical Sergeant Raymond Czeslawski was killed when the bomber in which he was a top turret gunner was downed by flak in Germany on May 8, 1944.

In 1948, Chess was recalled to active duty as a member of the

67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing and the Fifth Air Force

.

Later in his career, Chess was named Command Chaplain of the

U.S. Air Force Security Service before becoming Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force in 1961. He was promoted to Chief of Chaplains and achieved the rank of major general

in 1966. Chess remained Chief of Chaplains until his retirement in 1970.

Awards he received include the

oak leaf clusters

.

Chess died in 2000 at the

San Antonio, Texas. He had Parkinson's disease.^[2]