Born on May 3, 1908, in Waco, Texas, John Henderson “Jack” Foster attended the University of Texas and Baylor University, entering aviation cadet training at Brooks Field, Texas, in 1929. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air Corps Reserve in April 1931. An active reservist for 10 years, he was called to active duty in 1941. He organized and commanded the first radio-controlled target squadron at Biggs Field, Texas, early in World War II and later supervised the 25-squadron radio-controlled target program at Headquarters Army Air Forces in Washington, D.C. Following duty in the Second Air Force as deputy commander of the 16th Bombardment Training Wing, he served overseas under Lieutenant General Ira C. Eaker in the Combat Operations Section of the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces. Promoted to colonel in December 1944, he received the Bronze Star Medal and the Honorary Officer of the Military Division of the Order of the British Empire for his service in the Mediterranean, the latter awarded for “...the evacuation of prisoners of war from Austrian prison camps and for transporting food and medical stores.”
He remained active in the Air Force Reserve program after returning to San Antonio, Texas, following the war. In October 1951, he organized and commanded the 907th Reserve Training Wing at Brooks AFB, Texas. In June 1952, the 907th was replaced at Brooks AFB by the 8707th Pilot Training Wing, which General Foster continued to command until May 1955. At that time, he took command of the 433rd Troop Carrier Wing, known as “The Alamo Wing,” at Brooks AFB. He relinquished command of the 433rd in November 1960 and was appointed Mobilization Assistant to the Commander of the Twelfth Air Force at Connally AFB, Waco, Texas. He was promoted to brigadier general in 1954 and to major general in 1961.
An insurance executive in civilian life, he was appointed first vice president of the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce in 1960. He also served in many civic and military capacities, including being a member of the Department of Defense Reserve Policy Board, chairman of the Tactical Air Command Policy Council on Reserve Affairs, and the National President of the Reserve Officers Association of the United States from 1962-1963. He served as chairman of the Leaders Roundtable of Texas, a Life Underwriters honor group. He also served as president of the Canopus Club of San Antonio and chairman of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Southwest Texas. He was a past director of the Life Underwriters Association, the American Red Cross, and the Community Chest of San Antonio. He was also a member of the Order of Daedalians, the San Antonio Country Club, Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, the American Legion, the Episcopal Churchman’s Association of West Texas, and served as director of the Randolph Field National Bank.
He retired from the Air Force Reserve in the rank of major general on May 15, 1966.