Ernest L. Massad
A decorated Army general who first made his name as a college football All-American, then commanded troops in three wars.
1908–1993 (age 85)·United States Army general·Birthday: December 25·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Ernest 'Iron Mike' Massad built a reputation on toughness, first on the gridiron and then on the battlefield. At West Point, he was a star halfback, earning All-American honors and leading the Cadets to an undefeated season. That same drive propelled his military career. He served with distinction in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, commanding infantry units and earning the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism. After retiring as a major general, Massad embarked on a successful second act in the oil business in Oklahoma, demonstrating the same leadership and determination that defined his decades in uniform. His life traced an archetypal American path from sports hero to combat leader to businessman.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Ernest was born in 1908, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ernest Was Born
The biggest hits of 1908
Ernest's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1908Born
Ford Model T goes into production
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1913Started school
The Federal Reserve is established
President: Woodrow Wilson
1921Became a teenager
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1924Could drive
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1926Could vote
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1929Turned 21
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1938Turned 30
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
1948Turned 40
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1958Turned 50
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1968Turned 60
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1978Turned 70
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1988Turned 80
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1993Died at 85
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
Key Achievements
- Earned the Distinguished Service Cross, the Army's second-highest award, for valor in combat during the Korean War.
- Selected as a College Football All-American in 1930 while playing halfback for the Army Black Knights.
- Achieved the rank of Major General and commanded the 101st Airborne Division's 1st Brigade.
Did You Know?
His nickname 'Iron Mike' was given to him by his West Point football coach.
He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1975.
After his military service, he became a successful independent oil producer in Oklahoma.
“Discipline is the bridge between a goal set and a goal accomplished.”
