{{Short description|National Guard of the United States general}} {{For|another person with the name|Alfred Ahner (painter)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Alfred Ahner | honorific_suffix = | image = Alfred Ahner.jpg | image_size = | image_upright = | alt = | caption = | order = | office = Adjutant General of Indiana | status = <!--If this is specified, overrides Incumbent.--> | term_start = 1972 | term_end = 1986 | term_start2 = 1960 | term_end2 = 1961 | governor2 = Harold W. Handley | predecessor2 = John W. McConnell | successor2 = John S. Anderson | monarch = | president = | governor_general = | prime_minister = | taoiseach = | chancellor = | governor = Edgar Whitcomb (1972-1973)<br/>Otis Bowen (1973-1981)<br/>Robert D. Orr (1981-1986) | chair = | vice_president = | vice_prime_minister = | deputy = | lieutenant = | vicechair = | succeeding = <!--For President-elect or equivalent--> | parliamentary_group = | constituency = | majority = | predecessor = John M. Owens | successor = MG Carl G. Farrell | pronunciation = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1921|11|12}} | birth_place = Huntington, Indiana | death_date = {{Death date and age|2010|09|23|1921|11|12}} | death_place = | death_cause = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = | citizenship = | party = | other_party = <!--For additional political affiliations--> | height = <!-- "X cm", "X m" or "X ft Y in" plus optional reference (conversions are automatic) --> | spouse = | partner = <!--For those with a domestic partner and not married--> | relations = | children = | parents = <!-- overrides mother and father parameters --> | mother = <!-- may be used (optionally with father parameter) in place of parents parameter (displays "Parent(s)" as label) --> | father = <!-- may be used (optionally with mother parameter) in place of parents parameter (displays "Parent(s)" as label) --> | relatives = | education = | alma_mater = | occupation = | profession = | known_for = | salary = | net_worth = <!-- Net worth should be supported with a citation from a reliable source --> | cabinet = | committees = | portfolio = | awards = <!-- For civilian awards - appears as "Awards" if |mawards= is not set --> | blank1 = | data1 = | blank2 = | data2 = | blank3 = | data3 = | blank4 = | data4 = | blank5 = | data5 = | signature = | signature_alt = | website = <!--Military service--> | nickname = | allegiance = {{flagicon|USA}} United States | branch = {{army|USA}} | service_years = | rank = 7px First Lieutenant | unit = | commands = | battles = World War II | mawards = Legion of Merit<br/>Meritorious Service Medal<br/>Commendation Medal<br/>Good Conduct Medal<br/>American Campaign Medal<br/>European Theatre Medal<br/>World War II Victory Medal<br/>Army of Occupation Medal<br/>Armed Forces Reserve Medal<br/>Reserve Good Conduct Medal | military_blank1 = | military_data1 = | military_blank2 = | military_data2 = | military_blank3 = | military_data3 = | military_blank4 = | military_data4 = | military_blank5 = | military_data5 = <!--Embedded templates / Footnotes--> | module = | module2 = | module3 = | module4 = | module5 = | footnotes = }} Major General '''Alfred Frederick Ahner'''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1973-pt5/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1973-pt5-3-1.pdf |title=Congressional Record — Senate |date=February 28, 1973 |page=5917 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |access-date=June 22, 2022}}</ref> (November 12, 1921 – September 23, 2010) was an Indiana National Guard officer who served for 15 years as the state's Adjutant General.
Ahner was born in Huntington, Indiana, and was a graduate of Indiana Central College (B.A., 1947) and Butler University (M.S., 1951). He enlisted in the Army Enlisted Reserve Corps on August 22, 1942<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/download/generalofficerso00wash/generalofficerso00wash.pdf |title=General Officers of the Army and Air National Guard |date=October 1977 |publisher=Office of Public Affairs, National Guard Bureau |access-date=June 22, 2022}}</ref> and served in World War II as a 1st Lieutenant, and was the first De-Nazification Officer in the American Zone of Vienna, Austria.<ref name=obit>{{cite web |url=http://www.shirleybrothers.com/obituary.aspx?cd=2809 |title=Obituary: Major General Alfred F. Ahner |publisher=Shirley Brothers Mortuary |accessdate=September 23, 2010 |url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716055819/http://www.shirleybrothers.com/obituary.aspx?cd=2809 |archivedate=July 16, 2011 }}</ref>
After serving as a full-time staff officer with the Indiana Guard, Ahner was appointed as Adjutant General in 1960 by Governor Harold Handley.<ref name=obit /> Governor Edgar Whitcomb also appointed MG Ahner in 1972, and he served until his retirement in 1986.<ref name=obit /> MG Ahner served in that position longer than any other Adjutant General in the state's history, a total of 15 years, under 4 governors.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20100923/BLOGS01/100929780 |title=Indiana Maj. Gen. Alfred F. Ahner dies |last=Gregory |first=Anne |date=September 23, 2010 |publisher=Journal Gazette |location=Fort Wayne |accessdate=September 23, 2010 |archive-date=March 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302081757/http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20100923/BLOGS01/100929780 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== Awards and decorations == During his military service he was awarded: Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Commendation Ribbon with Medal Pendant, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European Theatre Medal with Three Battle Stars for Ground Combat in Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe, World War II Victory Medal, Army Occupation Medal-Germany, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Guard Minute Man Award, Certificate of Commendation from General Mark Clark, Indiana Distinguished Service Medal, Indiana Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Indiana Long Service Medal, Indiana Volunteer Emblem, Indiana Emergency Service Ribbon, Army National Guard Recruiter Badge, Selective Service System Meritorious Service Award and NGAUS Distinguished Service Medal.
== References == {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ahner, Alfred}} Category:1921 births Category:2010 deaths Category:People from Huntington, Indiana Category:United States Army personnel of World War II Category:United States Army officers Category:American expatriates in Austria Category:University of Indianapolis alumni Category:Indiana National Guard personnel Category:Butler University alumni Category:Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (United States) Category:National Guard (United States) generals Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit Category:Adjutants General of Indiana