Dedication Ceremony 2008 Forward Air Controllers

The Planes We Flew EDICATION EREMONY D C 2008 FORWARD AIR CONTROLLERS MEMORIAL

Memorial Park Thanks to all who came to help honor our fallen heroes and their families. Colorado Springs, Colorado “POOR IS THE NATION THAT HAS NO HEROES. October 3, 2008 SHAMEFUL IS THE NATION WHO HAS THEM AND FORGETS.” ~ From a monument on the Hatchie River Battlefield 16

FAC Recipients of the Medal of Honor

● Captain Steven Logan Bennett (Posthumous) 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron June 29, 1972, Flying OV-10 ● Captain Hilliard Almond Wilbanks (Posthumous) 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron February 24, 1967, Flying O-1 ● Colonel George E. “Bud” Day Detachment 1, 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron August 26, 1967, F-100F

FAC Recipients of the Air Force Cross (Posthumous) Maj. John L. Carroll, O-1 Capt. Charles E. Engle, O-1 Maj. William W. McAllister, O-1 The Words to TAPS Maj. Jerry A. Sellers, O-2 Day is done, gone the sun, LTC Ronald E. Storz, O-1/POW From the hills, from the lake, from the sky. Capt. Richard L. Whitesides, O-1 All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.

Other FAC Recipients of the Air Force Cross Go to sleep, peaceful sleep, May the soldier or sailor, God keep. Allan R. Baer, O-1 Paul F. Koeltzow, F-105 On the land or the deep, safe in sleep. John R. Bodie, OV-10 Joseph B. Madden, O-1 William R. Carter, OV-10 Donald L. Marx, O-2 George E. Day, F-100F/POW Phillip V. Maywald, O-2 Love, good night, must thou go, Karl T. Feuerriegel, O-1 Joseph A. Personett, OV-10 When the day, and the night, need thee so? Delbert W. Fleener, O-1 Richard L. Poling, OV-10 All is well. Speedeth all to their rest. Leonard Funderburk, OV-10 Kenneth H. Sellers, O-1 James K. Gibson, O-1 Weston T. Smith, O-2 James C. Harding A-1 Donald D. Stevens, O-1 Fades the light; And afar Goeth day, Ramon A. Horine,k, O-1 Roland H. “Rhip” Worrell III, O-2 and the stars shineth bright, Fare thee well, day has gone, night is on.

Thanks and praise, for our days, Forward Air Controllers: Men who flew willingly to the sound of 'Neath the sun, 'neath the stars, 'neath the sky, battle. As we go, this we know, God is nigh * * * * * * * * * * TAPS music was written by Union General Daniel A. Butterfield for “Lights Out” in 1862. Its strains are melancholy, yet full of rest and peace. It became standard at If not for the FAC, many more names would be inscribed on the military funeral ceremonies in 1891. Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

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INSCRIPTIONS ON THE MEMORIAL Sequence of Events Master of Ceremonies - Colonel Howard Pierson, Nail 01 ► Patriotic music – AF Academy Stellar Brass Band ► Fly over of vintage FAC aircraft This Memorial is dedicated to those special Air Force aviators, support staff, Army Special Forces and Marine Observers who lost their ► (*Please Stand*) National Anthem; Posting of Colors – lives during the War in Southeast Asia from 1961-1975 while flying Stellar Brass Band/High Frontier Honor Guard or supporting the Forward Air Controller mission. * * * * * * * * * * ► (*Please Stand*) Invocation by Master of Ceremonies – “At all times the FAC was the final air authority on whether or not the strike would Lt. Col. Howard Pierson, USAF Ret. continue. He was, in fact, the local air commander for the conduct of air operations, and his authority was recognized by the ground commander and flight leader ► Remarks, Introductions, and Thank yous – MC alike.” ~General William M. Momyer, MACV Commander for Air ► Proclamation – Vice Mayor Larry Small The Forward Air Controller ► Introduction of Dedication Speaker – MC It is the lonely mission, The Forward Air Controller. ► Memorial Dedication Address – Colonel “Bud” Day, His are the eyes above the battle. MOH, AFC He is the link to those below. ► Introduction of Major Duffy – MC While others avoid and strike fast, He lingers and trolls for contact, ► Forward Air Controller Requiem – Major John Duffy, Seeking out the enemy below, USA Ret. Determining the strike force needed. ► (*Please Stand*) Laying of the Wreaths – Colonel Bud His is the job to control the air attack, Day and General Ed Eberhart He determines the needs of the troops, And works the airstrike margins. ► (*Please Stand*) Rifle Volley; Taps – Honor Guard / His judgment is relied upon by all. Stellar Brass Band

Watching a “FAC” roll in hot on target, ► F-16 Missing Man Formation Flyover – CO ANG All guns blazing at his destruction, Is to watch a man of courage in action. ► (*Please Stand*) Retiring of the Flag –Honor Guard This is the daily job of the “FAC”.

~ Major John J. Duffy, DSC US Army Retired

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withstand the advancing enemy onslaught. With full knowledge of the limita- » Speaker Biographies « tions of his unarmed, unarmored, light reconnaissance aircraft, and the great danger imposed by the enemy's vast firepower, he unhesitatingly assumed a cov- COLONEL GEORGE E. “BUD” DAY, USAF RET. ering, close support role. Flying through a hail of withering fire at treetop level, Capt. Wilbanks passed directly over the advancing enemy and inflicted many Colonel George E. Day enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in casualties by firing his rifle out of the side window of his aircraft. Despite in- 1942 and served thirty months in the South Pacific during World War II. creasingly intense antiaircraft fire, Capt. Wilbanks continued to completely dis- After the war, he earned a Bachelor’s Degree, followed by law school regard his own safety and made repeated low passes over the enemy to divert their fire away from the rangers. His daring tactics successfully interrupted the where he received a Juris Doctor degree. In 1950, he was called to ac- enemy advance, allowing the rangers to withdraw to safety from their perilous tive duty and served two tours as a fighter-bomber pilot during the position. During his final courageous attack to protect the withdrawing forces, Korean War. Capt. Wilbanks was mortally wounded and his bullet-riddled aircraft crashed In 1966, Colonel Day was assigned to the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing between the opposing forces. Capt. Wilbanks' magnificent action saved numer- at Tuy Hoa Air Base South Vietnam. On June 25, 1967, he was assigned ous friendly personnel from certain injury or death. His unparalleled concern for as commander of Detachment 1, 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron his fellow man and his extraordinary heroism were in the highest traditions of the military service, and have reflected great credit upon himself and the U.S. where he became a pioneer of the "Fast FACs"— Forward Air Control- Air Force. lers over Laos and North Vietnam. On August 26, 1967, he was shot down in North Vietnam. During the ejection Day’s right arm was bro- The President of the United States in the name of ken in three places and he also experienced eye and back injuries. The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the Colonel Day was quickly captured by North Vietnamese local militia. On Medal of Honor to: his fifth night of captivity he escaped from his captors. Although BENNETT, STEVEN L. Medal of Honor Citation: Capt. Bennett was the pilot of a light stripped of both his boots and flight suit, Day crossed back into South aircraft flying an artillery adjustment mission along a heavily de- Vietnam, becoming the only U.S. prisoner to escape from North Viet- fended segment of route structure. A large concentration of enemy nam. Within two miles of a U.S. Marine firebase he was captured troops was massing for an attack on a friendly unit. Capt. Bennett again. He spent 67 months as a Prisoner of War and was repatriated on requested tactical air support but was advised that none was available. He also March 14, 1973. Bud Day has been awarded more than fifty decora- requested artillery support but this too was denied due to the close proximity of tions for combat. Most notable are: The Medal of Honor, the Air Force friendly troops to the target. Capt. Bennett was determined to aid the endangered unit and elected to strafe the hostile positions. After 4 such passes, the enemy Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, the Legion of force began to retreat. Capt. Bennett continued the attack, but, as he completed Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star for Valor (2 OLC), his fifth strafing pass, his aircraft was struck by a surface-to-air missile which the Purple Heart with three Clusters, the Air Medal (9 OLC), and the severely damaged the left engine and the left main landing gear. As fire spread Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. Colonel Day retired from active duty in in the left engine, Capt. Bennett realized that recovery at a friendly airfield was 1977 to resume his practice of law in Florida. At his retirement he had impossible. He instructed his observer to prepare for an ejection, but was in- nearly 8,000 total flying hours, and 4,900 hours in single engine jets. formed by the observer that his parachute had been shredded by the force of the impacting missile. Although Capt. Bennett had a good parachute, he knew that if he ejected the observer would have no chance of survival. With complete disre- LT. COL. HOWARD PIERSON USAF RET. gard for his own life, Capt. Bennett elected to ditch the aircraft into the Gulf of Tonkin, even though he realized that a pilot of this type aircraft had never sur- Born in New Jersey in 1927, Howard Pierson left high school to join vived a ditching. The ensuing impact upon the water caused the aircraft to cart- the Navy in WWII. After the War, he attended U of Alabama on a foot- wheel and severely damaged the front cockpit, making escape for Capt. Bennett ball scholarship and was commissioned through AFROTC in 1951. After impossible. The observer successfully made his way out of the aircraft and was pilot training, he flew combat in the Korean “Police Action”. Returning rescued. Capt. Bennett's unparalleled concern for his companion, extraordinary stateside, he flew B-47s and B-52s in SAC. heroism and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Air Force.

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The President of the United States in the name of In between volunteer combat tours in Vietnam totaling about 4 The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the years, he was a T-38 IP at Reese AFB. In Vietnam, he flew with the Medal of Honor to: USAF, Vietnamese AF, and the Royal Thailand AF. As Commander of DAY, GEORGE E. the “Nail” FACs, he was the last to fly out of Cambodia when US sup- Medal of Honor Citation: On 26 August 1967, Col. Day was port terminated on August 15, 1973. forced to eject from his aircraft over North Vietnam when it was hit by ground fire. His right arm was broken in 3 places, and his left Col. Pierson flew fighters, bombers, trainers and utility aircraft with knee was badly sprained. He was immediately captured by hostile 1, 2, 4, 6, & 8 engines, accumulating over 10,000 flying hours. He has forces and taken to a prison camp where he was interrogated and severely tor- been named to the Air Commando and to the Arkansas Boys State tured. After causing the guards to relax their vigilance, Col. Day escaped into Halls of Fame. His combat medals include three Distinguished Flying the jungle and began the trek toward South Vietnam. Despite injuries inflicted Crosses, the Airman Medal for Valor, three Bronze Stars, the Meritori- by fragments of a bomb or rocket, he continued southward surviving only on a few berries and uncooked frogs. He successfully evaded enemy patrols and ous Service Medal, 39 Air Medals, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, reached the Ben Hai River where he encountered U.S. artillery barrages. With and many other awards. He is the official FAC Association Chaplain. the aid of a bamboo log float, Col. Day swam across the river and entered the Married to Gilberta Guth Pierson, their combined family includes demilitarized zone. Due to delirium, he lost his sense of direction and wandered eight children, 12 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. aimlessly for several days. After several unsuccessful attempts to signal U.S. aircraft, he was ambushed and recaptured by the Viet Cong, sustaining gunshot MAJOR JOHN DUFFY, USA RET. wounds to his left hand and thigh. He was returned to the prison from which he had escaped and later was moved to Hanoi after giving his captors false infor- John J. Duffy rose from Sergeant to Major while serving with Special mation to questions put before him. Physically, Col. Day was totally debilitated Operations units in the United States Army. He served four combat and unable to perform even the simplest task for himself. Despite his many inju- tours in Vietnam, operating primarily behind enemy lines. ries, he continued to offer maximum resistance. His personal bravery in the face of deadly enemy pressure was significant in saving the lives of fellow aviators Major Duffy has been awarded 70 awards and decorations, including who were still flying against the enemy. Col. Day's conspicuous gallantry and the Distinguished Service Cross, the Soldier's Medal, four Bronze Stars intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with "V” device, eight Purple Hearts, seven Air Medals with "V” device, with the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon three Army Commendation Medals with "V” device, three Vietnamese himself and the U.S. Armed Forces. Crosses of Gallantry, four Presidential Unit Citations, the Combat Infan- The President of the United States in the name of try Badge, Master Parachutist Wings, plus numerous other awards for The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the service and merit. Medal of Honor to: Following his military service, John was President of a publishing WILBANKS, HILLIARD A. company and founder and President of an investment firm. He has Medal of Honor Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intre- published four poetry books and been selected for numerous an- pidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call thologies. His latest book is “Bush Chronicles”. He is a founding of duty. As a forward air controller Capt. Wilbanks was pilot of an unarmed, light aircraft flying visual reconnaissance ahead of a South member of the Special Operations Association, The Special Forces Vietnam Army Ranger Battalion. His intensive search revealed a well- Decade Association, The Legion of Valor, The Forward Air Control- concealed and numerically superior hostile force poised to ambush the ad- lers Association, Air Commando Association, The Combat Medic As- vancing rangers. The Viet Cong, realizing that Capt. Wilbanks' discovery had sociation, and Team 162 “Covan” Association. compromised their position and ability to launch a surprise attack, immediately fired on the small aircraft with all available firepower. The enemy then began advancing against the exposed forward elements of the ranger force which were pinned down by devastating fire. Capt. Wilbanks recognized that close support aircraft could not arrive in time to enable the rangers to

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Special Thanks to the following ~ Contributors ~ Organizations and individuals without whom this would not have been possible: Diamond Level Donors ($10,000 or more)

» AF Academy Stellar Brass Band  Clarence Gianarelli, Ideal Concrete » American Legion Riders  AF Academy Class of 68 » Clarence Gianarelli, Ideal Concrete Platinum Level Donors ($5,000 or more) » Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services

» Colorado Springs Fire Department EMT Squad  Dick & Judy Wilhelm, Wilhelm Monuments » Colorado Air National Guard Gold Level Donors ($1,000 or more) » Harrison High School Junior ROTC » Lao-Hmong Special Guerilla Unit (SGU) Veterans  American Military Family Inc  Anna Ackerman Fund » Mayor and Council, City of Colorado Springs  Lao-Hmong American Coalition » Patriot Guard Riders  Ray E Noftsinger  Howard J Pierson » PAFB High Frontier Honor Guard  Lorin Walker » Peterson AFB Company Grade Officers’ Council  Logistic Specialties, Inc  USAA Foundation » Peterson Air & Space Museum, Gail Whalen Director/

Curator Silver Level Donors ($500 or more) » Wescott Fire Department EMT Squad  Charles & Christina Aigner  Jim & Aimee Palmer » Dick Wilhelm, Wilhelm Monuments  Air Academy Federal CU  Tom & PK Petitmermet  Frank Arnold  Russel H Pickard th » 13 ASOS, Fort Carson, CO  Dennis E (Denny) Crouch  Lanis (Lanny) Pinchuk  Bryant P Culberson  Charles L (Charlie) Pocock  EAPLS (RAVENS)  Ralph H (Randy) Thurman  FAC Association  Darrel D Whitcomb  Gene D Hamner  1st Wisconsin Brigade US  Wilson Pat Hurley Volunteers—A  Gene A. Langenbach  Bertram J. Woodside  The family of Capt. James V. Newendorp

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FALLEN COMRADES SLOW FAC FALLEN COMRADES

ROGER L TEETER* MISTY FAC FALLEN COMRADES STEVEN L BENNETT, MOH DOUGLAS H BUTTERFIELD*** DANIEL W THOMAS HILLIARD A WILBANKS, MOH JAMES F CAMERON EDMUND F THORNELL PATRICK H CARROLL JOHN I CAMERON RONALD E TINSLEY JEFFERSON S DOTSON ARTHUR J ABRAMOFF IVAN J CAMPBELL THOMAS J TOLLIVER LAURENT L GOURLEY*** KENNETH D ADKINS ROBERT M CARN JR*** JERRY W TOON JAMES W ADKISSON DONALD G CARR* MICHAEL O MC ELHANON GEORGE H TOUSLEY III*** HENRY L ALLEN JOHN L CARROLL*** TIMOTHY M TUCKER JOHN F OVERLOCK JAMES P ALLENBERG JOSEPH CARTER JR WILLIS G UHLS*** CLYDE SEILER BARRY K ALLMOND JERRY L CHAMBERS JOHN W VANDEVENTER LAWRENCE W WHITFORD JR VINCENT C ANDERSON DONALD L CHANEY* HAROLD R VOGEL HOWARD K WILLIAMS STUART M ANDREWS JOSEPH L CHESTNUT RICHARD S VOIGTS CATALINO B ANTONIO JR RICHARD N CHRISTY II***

MICHAEL S VRABLICK JOHN J BACH III LARRY J CLANTON BRUCE C WALKER FRED E BAILEY JAMES W CLEMENT TIM L WALTERS * JAMES S BAIRD HARRY J COATES JR GEORGE B WARING JOHN R BALDRIDGE JR BILLY J COLEY RALPH R WENSINGER ROBERT BALL DAVID L COLLINS RICHARD L WHITESIDES CHARLES D BALLOU JOHN F CONLON MICHAEL E WIDENER SAM F BEACH JR GLENN R COOK OVID K WIGGINS GEORGE J BEDROSSIAN JOHNNIE C CORNELIUS DEREX S WILLIAMS JR JAMES H BENNETT JR MORRISON A COTNER PAUL R WINDLE DAVID E BENSON BRUCE A COUILLARD THOMAS H WOLFE JERRY E BEVAN OMMIE T COX JR WILLIAM E WOOD JR THOMAS J BEYER WILLIAM T CRAWFORD JAMES C WOODS FRANCIS J BIRCHAK JAMES E CROSS ROBERT F WOODS CRAIG S BLACKNER GEORGE M CUNNINGHAM KARL E WORST CHARLES E BLAIR NORMAN N CUNNINGHAM* MANNIFRED YATES BRUCE E BOLTZE** DANIEL R DAVIS*** DAVID L YOAKUM HERBERT W BOOTH JR LARRY L DEAN LOUIS C ZUCKER DONALD I BOWERS RICHARD H DEFER JAMES H ZUMBRUN* DAVID G BRENNER SAMUEL M DEICHELMANN GARDNER BREWER JAMES B DES ROCHERS SYMBOLS: FRANK H BRIGGS FREDDIE D DICKENS * = U.S. ARMY DANIEL M BROWN JACKIE L DICKENS ** = U.S. MARINE CORPS JOSEPH O BROWN EDWARD R DODGE* *** = AF ACADEMY GRADUATES WENDELL L BROWN DOUGLAS H D ORSAY ROBERT W BRUNSON GEORGE R DOVER** “GREATER LOVE HAS NO MAN ICHARD W BUDKA THOMAS A DUCKETT THAN THIS, CLAUDE M BUNCH JOHN E DUFFY*** THAT A MAN GAVE HIS LIFE PARK G BUNKER*** EDWARD J DUPERE FOR HIS FRIENDS.” WILLIAM O BURKETT GARRETT E EDDY JOHN 15 : 13 JOSEPH K BUSH* RICHARD L EDWARDS JAMES M BUTLER FRANCIS X EGAN

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SLOW FAC FALLEN COMRADES SLOW FAC FALLEN COMRADES

JOHN C EGGER JR DONALD R HAWLEY PHILLIP L MASCARI G DAVID REESE III JEROME ELKINS FREDRICK M HECKLER WILLIAM W MCALLISTER WALTER A RENELT RICHARD G ELZINGA LUCIUS L HEISKELL EDWARD E MCBRIDE ROBERT F REX*** TONIE L ENGLAND JR HAL K HENDERSON*** CARL O MCCORMICK LON D RICHARDS CHARLES E ENGLE JAMES C HENNEBERRY KURT C MCDONALD VICTOR ROMERO ALBERT A ENGELHARDT RICHARD W HEROLD MICHAEL J MCGERTY HAL J ROWLETT JOHN L ESPENSHIED BARRY W HILBRICH* HOMER C MCINTYRE STEPHEN C RUBY WILLIAM H FABIAN JAMES D HOAG RICHARD W MEACHAM JR CHARLES P RUSSELL PHILIPPE B FALES DAVID H HOLMES PAUL A MEINERS ROBERT E RYAN*** DAVID A FARROW LESTER E HOLMES GEORGE B MENGES JOHN L RYDER*** JOSEPH B FEARNO MARSHALL M HOLT JR ROBERT K MILBRATH JOHN M RYDLEWICZ*** ALLEN E FELLOWS GERALD E HULL HERBERT MILLER THOMAS A SANDERS*** WAYNE A FERGUSON JAMES L HULL JOHN R MINUTOLI* WILLIAM S SANDERS WILLIAM M FERNANDEZ* PAUL V JACKSON III*** HAROLD L MISCHLER ALBERT F SAYER JR AARON G FIDIAM JOHN C JACOBS DONALD A MOLLICONE GRIFFIN E SCARBOROUGH PETER W FIELDS DONALD L JACOBSEN DENNIS E MORGAN WILLIAM L SCHULTZ ALBERT C FILES* ROBERT L JOHNSON GEORGE W MORRIS JR UWE-THORSTEN SCOBEL WILLIAM R FINN OMAR D JONES* JOHN W MOWER STEPHEN R SCRIVENER WALTER H FORBES III THOMAS J JOZEFOWSKI STEVEN A MUELLER DOUGLAS M SEELEY RICHARD L FOXX WILLIAM A JUSTICE CARMEN MUSCARA* JERRY A SELLERS LAWRENCE J FRAHMAN H WALKER KAISER JOHN D MUSGROVE DOMINIC SEMENTELLI CHARLES S FRANCO*** CHARLES L KARR FRANK F MUSICK ROLLAND B SHUBBUCK LAUREN D FRITZ CARL F KARST X QUY NGUYEN MARLIN L SIEGWALT GLEN L FULLERTON JOHN W KENNEDY V T NGUYEN PAUL J SIMON JOSEPH GAMBINO JR JAMES C KINDEL CHARLES J NOLDER WILLIAM G SIPOS FRANCIS E GEIGER PAUL F KLUG ARTHUR E NORMAN WINFIELD W SISSON** JAMES R GILMORE JR*** DAVID L KNOTT THOMAS W NORMAN WILBUR A SKAAR ARTHUR GLIDDEN* RONALD I KRAUSS GEORGE H NORTON OWEN G SKINNER CHARLES H GRAY JR* KENNETH D KREHBIEL EDGAR E NUSCHKE JAMES L SMITH*** RICHARD T GRAY*** ALVA R KROGMAN*** JOSE H ORTIZ LEWIS P SMITH II REMI H GREEFF PETER J LANDRY DAN B PACKARD NORRIS R SMITH BRUCE B GREENE JAMES F LANG JOSEPH E PARKER JR* WARREN P SMITH JR CHARLES F GRIFFIN*** BILLY E LANKFORD ANTHONY J PEARSON WILLIAM W SMITH ANDRE R GUILLET ROGER G LEADBETTER MARK A PETERSON*** HERMAN SMITS JR HARLOW K HALBOWER*** JOHN A LEHECKA JERRY N PHILLIPS WILBUR T STAIR TED B HALLENBECK*** DON R LEWIS LEON J PIERCE ROBERT E STALEY GEORGE B HAMILTON DAVID C LINDBERG JACK C PLUMB RODNEY H STONE KENNETH J HAMRICK HAROLD B LINEBERGER LARRY F POTTS** (POW) RONALD E STORZ (POW) ARTHUR H HARDY*** ABEL LUNA JOHN P POWELL KENNARD E SVANOE*** LEE D HARLEY DONALD A LUNA JERRY W PYLE RICHARD C SWIFT GREGG HARTNESS JOSEPH A MACHOWSKI HARLEY B PYLES CHARLES F SWOPE JOHN H HASELTON*** HARRELD P MARTIN*** JAMES L RATLIFF HERSHALL TALLENT ROBERT D HAUER PATRICK R MARTIN MARION E REED RAYMOND TANNER

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