Midlands Military Matters: S.C. native awarded Order of the Palmetto

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)— A South Carolina native has received one of the state’s top honors.

This afternoon Governor Henry McMaster awarded General Lloyd “Fig” Newton with the Order of the Palmetto.

General Newton, a Ridgeland native, is Commander of Air Education and Training Command, headquartered at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.

He was also the first black pilot in the Air Force’s famed Thunderbirds team.