From: David Gleiser Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2020 11:10 AM To: Small, Jeffrey D Cc: Heather Satterwhite; Karen James Subject: [EXTERNAL] Responses to Letter from the Department of Interior

Mr. Small,

On behalf of the duly-elected County Board of Supervisors for Woodbury County, Iowa, I submit our formal responses to the questions in the attached letter from the Dept. of the Interior (see below). We thank the President for recognizing the need for such an effort to identify, preserve and promote these American Heroes at a proper location venue and we’re hopeful our recommendation of Bud Day will be added to the list of other great American Heroes for future display and recognition. Please contact me directly to discuss next steps.

1. Are there locations of natural beauty within your local government that would serve as a reputable location for these monuments, statues, and the National Garden of American Heroes? Please list and describe any such locations consistent with the EO. Unfortunately, no. We do not have any land under federal jurisdiction that we manage that fits this criteria to display one of these memorials.

2. Are there any statues or monuments your locality can donate or loan to this effort that will honor our nation’s heroes? Please list and describe any such statues or monuments consistent with the EO. Yes, a 13-ft. bronze statue of Colonel George E. “Bud” Day, recipient of the and the nation’s most-decorated living service member, standing on a black granite base. The statue is located in front of the /Col. Bud Day Field in Sioux City, Iowa. It was commissioned by former Presidential candidate, Ross Perot. The statue sculptor was Larry Ludtke of Houston, and the base was made by Bobby Schlitzberger.

3. In addition to the 31 individuals listed in the EO, are there any other American heroes who should be recognized in the National Garden of Heroes? Please list and describe any such individuals consistent with the EO. Yes, we recommend honoring American hero, George Everett "Bud" Day, who was a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and Command Pilot who served during the . He is often cited as being the most decorated U.S. service member since General Douglas MacArthur, having received some seventy decorations, a majority for actions in combat. After being shot down in 1967, Day persistently defied his captors, for which he was mercilessly tortured. Day received the Medal of Honor and Air Force Cross for his determined and selfless resistance.

In 1942, at age 17, Bud Day enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, and he served on a gun battery on Johnson Island for about two years. After the war he earned a law degree and was commissioned in the . Called to active duty in 1951, he completed pilot training and flew two tours in the Far East as an F-84 pilot during the .

In 1967, 43-year-old Maj. Bud Day volunteered for duty in Southeast Asia, and became commander of the Detachment 1, 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron, COMMANDO SABRE. This unit was better known by its radio call sign -- Misty -- which was Day's favorite song. On Aug. 27, 1967, on his 26th Misty FAC mission, Day was shot down by ground fire over . During the ejection, Day's right arm was broken in three places, along with other injuries. His crewman was quickly picked up by a rescue helicopter, but Day was captured by local militia, beaten and tortured.

After five days, he escaped. In spite of his serious injuries and missing his boots, he traveled over 25 miles. During his arduous travel, he ate only local fruit and raw frogs, and he was further injured when a bomb went off nearby. After about 10 days, Day made it across the Ben Hai River into and a few days later was about two miles away from the Marine base at . Tragically, Viet Cong insurgents discovered Day and shot him in the left thigh and left hand.

After being recaptured, Day was returned to the camp from which he escaped. His guards made him pay heavily for his escape, beating him severely. They then forced him to walk many miles to a prison at Vinh, where he was interrogated and further tortured. But, Day did not reveal any useful information to the enemy.

Taken to the " Hilton" a short time later, Day endured years of agonizing treatment. Many of his injuries did not heal properly, and his weight dropped to about 100 pounds. Still, Day remained defiant. In the spring of 1968, he was taken to the "Zoo," a punishment camp for "hard resisters." There, he was beaten so hard his vision became blurred. After Ho Chi Minh died in the fall of 1969, the POWs' situation improved somewhat, but Day was still singled out for special treatment.

In 1973, after 67 grueling months in captivity, he was released. The damage by the enemy permanently scarred Day's body, but he tenaciously fought to get well. A year later he was back on flight status, and he qualified as an F-4 pilot. Col Day became vice commander of the 33th Tactical Fighter Wing, and he retired from active service in 1976 and then practiced law in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

Colonel Day represented military retirees in a federal court case aimed at securing what they said were health benefits once promised by their recruiters. He campaigned for Mr. McCain when he challenged George W. Bush for the 2000 Republican presidential nomination. When President Bush sought re-election in 2004, Colonel Day worked with the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth organization in sharply attacking Mr. Bush’s Democratic opponent, Senator , a decorated Vietnam veteran, over his antiwar activities after coming home. Colonel Day backed Mr. McCain’s presidential bid in 2008.

In addition to his wife, Colonel Day is survived by two sons, Steven and George Jr.; two daughters, Sandra Hearn and Sonja LaJeunesse; and 14 grandchildren.

Admiral Stockdale, his fellow , died in 2005.

Looking back on the torment he endured as a prisoner, Colonel Day expressed pride over the way he and his fellow prisoners of war had conducted themselves. “As awful as it sounds, no one could say we did not do well,” he told The Associated Press in 2008. Being held prisoner “was a major issue in my life, and one that I am extremely proud of,” he said. “I was just living day to day.”

Born: February 24, 1925, Sioux City, IA Died: , 2013, Fort Walton Beach, FL Spouse: Doris Marlene Sorensen (m. 1949–2013) Place of burial: Barrancas National Cemetery, FL

Thanks,

David Gleiser, Director Community & Economic Development Woodbury County Courthouse 620 Douglas Street, 6th Floor Sioux City, IA 51101