THE AIR FORCE : A HISTORY OF ITS ORIGINS, DESIGN AND AWARD FROM 1965 TO THE PRESENT

FRED L. BORCH While the Army and Navy Medals of Honor were created gold substance. by Congress in 1862, the Air Force version of America’s highest military decoration did not come into existence For the next year and a half the Army Institute of Heraldry until 1965, when more than 100 years had passed. This worked closely with the Air Force to develop a design article examines the origins of the Air Force Medal of for a new Medal of Honor. Arriving at a final product, Honor, the complicated story of its design, and gives however, was not an easy process and appears to have been details on each of the 14 recipients, including the most acrimonious at times. The Institute submitted at least five recent award to Chief Master Sergeant Richard “Dick” basic designs, with a number of variations, to the Air Force Etchberger in 2010. before that service finally accepted a design for the new medal. But even this “accepted” Medal of Honor design Historical background changed again, as the Commission of Fine Arts required more modifications to the design before it would approve While the Air Force separated from the Army and became the decoration familiar to airmen today. an independent service in 1947, it continued to use Army decorations and medals. For example, all airmen The convoluted design process first began in mid-1961, decorated for extraordinary heroism during the Korean when the Army Institute of Heraldry submitted four War received the Army version of the Medal of Honor or different designs to Air Force headquarters. Unfortunately, the Distinguished Service Cross. as a September 14, 1961 letter from Colonel Horne indicates, none of these designs were acceptable. In the late 1950s, however, as the Air Force developed its own identity, it began looking at replacing these Army There were two basic objections: the Institute, echoing the awards with medals of its own design. On February 9, Army Medal of Honor design, proposed a five-pointed star 1961, Colonel John E. Horne of the Air Force’s Personnel with one point facing down. But, as Air Force insignia Services Division wrote to Lieutenant Colonel J. T. French, use a five-pointed star with one point facing up, the Air the Army Quartermaster General’s Heraldic Officer. In that Force wanted its Medal of Honor to likewise have any letter, Horne stated that the Air Force Chief of Staff had “star design placed in an upright position.” The second approved “the establishment of a distinctive [Air Force] objection to the four proposed designs was that each used pendant for the Medal of Honor,” but “with no change either Mercury or Minerva as the center-piece of its star to the present ribbon design.”1 With this in mind, Horne design. While the Air Force liked the star design, it did now requested that the Heraldic Officer develop “suitable not want to use the god Mercury because he was on the designs” for a new Air Force medal. While Horne was newly created Airman’s Medal. Similarly, the Air Force imposing “no restrictive guidelines … on the development did not want to use Minerva because that goddess was on of designs,” he nevertheless told French that any Air the Army Medal of Honor, and the Air Force wanted to Force Medal of Honor design produced by the Institute break with its Army past. Consequently, Horne suggested of Heraldry should consider the following: in his September 1961 letter that the Institute submit a fifth design using “the head of the Goddess of Liberty.” a. The pendant design should possess sculptural effect, and must be of outstanding quality and Finally, almost as an afterthought, Horne’s letter also stated symbolic of the dynamic role of the Air Force that the Air Force wanted the “attaching device” for any in the national defense structure. Medal of Honor design to include “the eagle and cloud b. The shape of the medal must be unique and design from our [Air Force] seal.”2 A copy of Horne’s should follow the idea of individualism September 14th letter is at Figure 1. expressed by current decorations of the services. (Round-shaped designs are not acceptable). In replying to Horne’s letter, the Army’s Institute of c. Do not use an eagle as the main element of the Heraldry was silent about the suggested design for the design. attaching device. However, when it came to Horne’s two d. Designs of the medal pendants should specify

4 JOMSA Figure 1: Horne’s September 14, 1961 letter. objections, and the suggestion that the Air Force Medal of the Army and Navy Medals of Honor, is unique for this Honor incorporate Liberty instead of Minerva or Mercury, highest award [and] in contradistinction to the Silver Star, the Bronze Star Medal and other military and civilian the Army left no doubt that it thought little of them. As usage. (emphasis supplied)3 Army Lieutenant Colonel French wrote to the Air Force on November 28, 1961: As French also explained, having one point of the star upright presented “an awkward appearance” and gave rise Placing one point of the star in an upright position is not considered the most suitable positioning for this medal. to “mechanical difficulties” when attaching a suspension. The arrangement with two points upward, as used by On the other hand, “suspension of the star with two points

Vol. 62, No. 2 (March-April 2011) 5 Figure 2: Pankey’s January 15, 1962 letter. upward” looked better and made it easier to attach the the U.S. ten-cent coin and may tend to degrade the value suspension that would link the five-pointed star to the of the medal. While the head of Minerva is used on the 4 Army Medal of Honor (except for facing in the opposite ribbon. direction), its use on the Air Force Medal of Honor would perpetuate the prestige attached to this award. However, As for the Air Force suggestion that Liberty be the the head of Mars, God of War … may be considered centerpiece of the new Medal of Honor, French wrote: equally appropriate as an alternate choice.5

The head of the Goddess of Liberty, even with the To say that the Air Force was unreceptive to the Institute’s additions of neckline and shoulders, looks too much like November 1961 letter is an understatement: the service

6 JOMSA rejected the suggestions about the placement of the star, and the Institute forwarded the final design to the Commission the suggestion to use Minerva or Mars. On the contrary, of Fine Arts. in a January 15, 1962 letter to the Army, Colonel Russell G. Pankey, Chief of the Air Force’s Personnel Services In any event, on September 25, 1962, Mr. David E. Finley, Division, insisted not only that the Institute should the Commission’s chairman, wrote to the Institute of incorporate Liberty’s likeness into any future design Heraldry. In that letter, Finley stated that the proposed Air proposals, but wrote that the Air Force “would like to see Force Medal of Honor design was “approved in general” the face of the Goddess from our Statue of Liberty used as except that the Commission wanted a “smaller profile of the central figure” in future drawings. (emphasis supplied)6 the head from the Statue of Liberty, without the arm.” This was because the design selected by the Air Force But Pankey’s letter also reveals that, despite these detailed was too “crowded” and a smaller profile would “enhance criticisms and additional guidance to the Institute of the sculptural quality of the medal.”10 A copy of Finley’s Heraldry, Air Force leaders were still very much undecided September 1962 letter is at Figure 3. about even a basic design for the new Air Force Medal of Honor. Pankey also asked the Institute to provide “at On October 5, 1962, the Institute notified the Air Force that least three [new] different designs” and requested that it was revising its design to comply with the Commission’s Institute “artists come up with two additional ideas which comments and, on November 13, 1962, asked the Air do not use the star design or ancient Greek figures as the Force if it wanted to comment on the modified design principal theme.”7 A copy of Pankey’s January 1962 letter before the Institute sent it to the Commission for final is at Figure 2. approval. On November 20, the Air Force informed the Institute of Heraldry that it was “pleased with the design as On May 4, 1962 Air Force representatives met at the revised” and requested that this design be submitted to the Institute’s offices to “review new design sketches” for the Commission “for final review.” The Commission approved Medal of Honor. In accordance with Air Force desires, the final Medal of Honor design on December 19, 1962. the Institute had produced “several versions of two basic design concepts …using elements of the Statue of Liberty On March 25, 1963, the Air Force Chief of Staff approved as the central device.”8 Army artists also had acquiesced the new design for the Medal of Honor and, on May 1, on the placement of the star, as “all of the designs had the 1963, Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh, Air Force star with one point up as requested by the Air Force.” Both aide to the President, showed the new design to John F. designs also incorporated a laurel wreath around the star, Kennedy. As Kennedy “liked” the design, the Air Force had similar to that used on the Army Medal of Honor, except its new decoration.11 Since Lewis J. King, Jr., a sculptor by that the wreath on the Air Force design was open at the profession and a civilian employee at the Army’s Institute top to differentiate it from the Army version. Finally, the of Heraldry, was the principal artist in the final design Institute also had designed two “suspension devices” from proposal, he is credited with being the designer of the Air which to hang the star and attach the ribbon.9 Force Medal of Honor.

The Air Force, now satisfied with the Institute’s product, The first metal strikings of the new Medal of Honor were selected a design that featured a three-quarter view of the done in October 1963 by the Medallic Art Company face of the Statue of Liberty, with her arm visible at the of New York City. There were some hiccups with the lower left. The selected design apparently also had a five- manufacturing process; the heating of the pendant to pointed star with one point up. But there is a mystery here: apply green enamel presented a number of problems. the design forwarded to the Commission of Additionally, in April 1964, the Air Force directed Fine Arts for approval had the star pointed down. Similarly, Medallic to “re-work Miss Liberty’s face” to make her there is a mystery about the suspension device selected for more attractive. In an April 3 memorandum the Air Force the new Medal of Honor. While Air Force representatives complained that Medallic’s metal engraver had failed “to selected a suspension device consisting of “an Air Force capture the sharp clear lines and youthful spirit” of Liberty. eagle with open cloud,” the suspension device ultimately This failure, in fact, had “transformed” Liberty “into a approved by the Commission was a thunderbolts-and-wing chubby matron and reduced the aesthetic potential inherent device taken directly from the Air Force Coat-of-Arms, in the approved design.”12 attached to a bar with the word VALOR. It seems that the Institute and Air Force changed the placement of the By mid-1965, the Medallic Art Company had overcome star and substituted the thunderbolt-and-wing suspension the enameling problem. The company also had sufficiently device sometime between May and September 1962, when improved Liberty’s face to obtain approval, as the Air Force

Vol. 62, No. 2 (March-April 2011) 7 Figure 3: Finley’s September 25, 1962 letter. officially accepted Medallic’s “preproduction sample” of While it now had its new Medal of Honor, the Air the new Medal of Honor on April 21, 1965. A photograph Force decided that it still needed legislative approval of a preproduction sample is at Figure 4. Production then for its version. Consequently, it obtained Congressional took some months, as the first complete sets of the Air authorization. The Air Force Medal of Honor is authorized Force Medal of Honor were not delivered to Randolph by Title 10, United States Code, Section 8741, effective Air Force Base until March 1966. November 1, 1965. In fact, Section 8741 simply permits the Air Force to have its own design for the Medal of Honor;

8 JOMSA Figure 5: Air Force Medal of Honor obverse, credit: United States Army Institute of Heraldry. Figure 4: Preproduction model of Air Force Medal of Honor, circa 1965, credit: United States Army Institute of Heraldry.

this means that the Civil War-era Army Medal of Honor statute is the actual legal basis for the Air Force decoration.

Description and Symbolism

Obverse (1965-present) The decoration is two inches high, and two and one- sixteenth inches in width. The obverse is a wreath of laurel in green enamel, within which is a gold-finished, five-pointed star, with one point down. Each point of the star is tipped with trefoils and each point contains a crown of laurel and oak on a green enamel background. Centered upon the star is an annulet of thirty-four stars (representing the number of states in the Union at the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861) which surround the profile of the head of the goddess of Liberty. The star is suspended by a connecting bar and pinned hinge from a trophy that consists of an outstretched wing and eight thunderbolts; at the top of the trophy is a bar with the word VALOR.

Lewis’s design echoes the Army and Navy Medals of Honor, in that a five-pointed star is the central feature of Figure 6: Air Force Medal of Honor reverse, credit: Melvin the decoration. The profile of Liberty symbolizes American Mueller.

Vol. 62, No. 2 (March-April 2011) 9 Figure 7: February 14, 1964 memorandum. ideals and the wing and thunderbolts indicate that this is an discussing whether the 13 stars on the MoH ribbon were Air Force decoration. Figure 5 is the obverse of the medal. to be woven into the ribbon or embroidered. While the Army’s Institute of Heraldry wanted the stars to be “woven Reverse (1965-present) right into the ribbon at the time of manufacture,” this does not appear to have occurred. On the contrary, today’s Air The reverse is plain so that the recipient’s name may Force MoH has embroidered stars. be engraved. Figure 6 shows the reverse of a currently manufactured medal. Air Force Medal of Honor Award Process

Ribbon (1965-present) Criteria The VALOR bar is suspended from a slightly oblong pale blue, moiré silk pad, folded at the corners. There are 13 The Medal of Honor is awarded to an airman who stars (each 7/64th inches in diameter) on the pad. These “distinguishes himself conspicuously by gallantry and stars represent the original 13 colonies and are arranged in intrepidity at the risk of his life, above and beyond the the form of a triple chevron. The pad is attached to a pale call of duty,” while engaged in: blue, silk, neck cravat (ribbon) of the same blue material, measuring 24 inches in length and having a width of one • an action against an enemy of the United States; and 3/16th inches. Three snaps are used to fasten it around • while engaged in military operations involving the recipient’s neck. conflict with an opposing foreign force; or • while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed Figure 7 is a copy of February 14, 1964 memorandum

10 JOMSA force in which the United States is not a belligerent Nomination Process: Time Limits party.13 Under Title 10, United States Code, Section 8744, any To justify the award an airman must clearly render recommendation for the Air Force Medal of Honor must himself conspicuously above his comrades by an act so be submitted within two years of the act and the Medal outstanding that it clearly distinguishes his gallantry as of Honor itself must be awarded within three years being beyond the call of duty. after the date of the act justifying the award. There are, however, two exceptions to this general rule. First, if the Nomination Process: Procedure Secretary of the Air Force determines that an airman, in fact, was recommended for the MoH within the two year While any person may nominate an airman for the Medal period, but that recommendation was “lost” or “through of Honor, as a practical matter a nomination will occur inadvertence … not acted upon,” then the Medal of Honor at the lowest level in the chain of command, e.g. with may be awarded. a squadron commander (Lieutenant Colonel). Starting the nomination process at this level permits those with Second, under Title 10, United States Code, Section personal knowledge of the airman (and perhaps first-hand 1130, any member of Congress may “request” that the knowledge of the act of combat heroism) to provide a full Secretary of the Air Force “review” a nomination (or and fair evaluation of the nomination before it begins to the upgrading of an existing decoration to the Medal of move up the chain of command. Honor) regardless of the amount of time that has passed since the act of heroism upon which the nomination is Regardless of the rank or position of the person who based. Section 1130 requires that the Secretary determine initially recommends an airman for the Medal of Honor, “the merits of approving the award” and further requires however, as the nomination packet moves forward, the him to submit to both the House and Senate Committees Defense Department requires that the Medal of Honor on Armed Services “a detailed discussion of the rationale packet be prepared as follows: supporting this determination.” Assuming that the Secretary informs both the House and Senate committees • two copies; that the proposed Medal of Honor is meritorious, the next • housed in three-ring binder with an organized table step is for the Congress to enact legislation waiving the of contents; time limitations specified in Section 8744 for the specific • containing supporting documentation (forms, purpose of giving the President the authority to award narratives, witness statements, graphs, diagrams, and pictures); the Medal of Honor to the nominated airman concerned. • including a Department of the Air Force Medal After that statute is passed, the Medal of Honor may be of Honor citation and certificate, in a presentation awarded by the President. folder, suitable for presentation by the President of the United States. This member of Congress provision has now been used twice to upgrade a posthumous Air Force Cross award to Additionally, each Medal of Honor recommendation the Air Force Medal of Honor. In October 2000, Airman packet “shall contain,” at minimum, the following: 1st Class William H. Pitsenbarger’s posthumous Air Force Cross was upgraded to an Air Force Medal of Honor; • Recommendation from the Combatant Commander Pitsenbarger’s family accepted the award from Secretary concerned (for example, the Commander, United of the Air Force Whit Peters on December 8, 2000. States Central Command or Commander, United Almost 10 years later, Chief Master Sergeant Richard States Special Operations Command); Etchberger’s posthumous Air Force Cross was upgraded • Recommendation from the Chief of Staff of the to an Air Force Medal of Honor and, on September 10, Air Force; • Recommendation from the Secretary of the Air 2010, Etchberger’s sons accepted the decoration from Force President in a White House ceremony. • Recommendation from the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Intangible factors

After these recommendations are part of a Medal of Honor Finally, a few words on intangible factors, the nature of air nomination packet it goes to the Secretary of Defense. He warfare, politics, and luck, that have influenced and will then takes the nomination to the President, who approves continue to influence, the award of the Air Force Medal (or disapproves) the award as the Commander-in-Chief.14 of Honor.

Vol. 62, No. 2 (March-April 2011) 11 The 14 Air Force Medals of Honor awarded to date have Legislation to waive the two-year time limit passed in late all been for conspicuous gallantry during the Vietnam 2008, and Etchberger was awarded a posthumous Medal War. The majority, 11 out of 14, have gone to officers. of Honor in 2010. A change in politics, and timing, made This is chiefly because, in Southeast Asia, pilots (who the difference.15 are exclusively officers in the Air Force) were most likely to experience the close combat ordinarily required Finally, luck also is a factor in the award of the Air for conspicuous gallantry. Interestingly, only one of the Force Medal of Honor, in the sense that the success of a three Medals of Honor awarded to enlisted personnel, nomination very much depends on a nominating airman that to Sergeant. John L. Levitow, was for gallantry in who writes well and, perhaps more importantly, is willing aerial combat; the decorations to Chief Master Sergeant to take the time to identify witnesses and collect detailed Etchberger and Airman First Class Pitsenbarger were both sworn statements from them, draw diagrams and maps for gallantry in action on the ground. illuminating the event, and otherwise assemble a Medal of Honor nomination packet. Additionally, as the packet It follows that, given the nature of the Air Force’s role moves through the chain-of-command, just one lukewarm in the on-going conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, it is endorsement may end chances for success, resulting unlikely that there will be a Medal of Honor awarded perhaps in a downgraded reward. to an airman for conspicuous gallantry in combat with insurgents in either location, unless that airman is a para- First recipient: Major Bernard F. Fisher, March 10, rescueman, para-jumper, or otherwise participating in 1966. special operations on the ground. This is because, at least to date, only airmen in these assignments are on the “tip of Major Bernard Francis Fisher received the first Air Force the spear.” Air Force pilots (whether “driving” aircraft or Medal of Honor for a daring rescue. The medal was unmanned aerial vehicles) are not experiencing the combat presented to him by President Lyndon B. Johnson in a situation required for a Medal of Honor. White House ceremony on January 19, 1967.

Politics also is a factor in the award of the Medal of Honor, On March 10, 1966, Fisher took off in a Douglas A-1E and the recent upgrade to Chief Master Sergeant Dick “Skyraider” from Pleiku, South Vietnam, to fly a routine Etchberger is a perfect example of how changing politics bombing and strafing mission. Soon after taking off he can and does make a difference. On March 11, 1968, was diverted to Ashau where a Special Forces camp was Etchberger was killed in action while serving in Laos as under heavy attack by 2,000 North Vietnamese troops. part of a top-secret radar station. His extraordinary heroism Arriving over the area, Fisher found four other A-1E that day in Laos was recognized at the time as deserving of Skyraiders, which had also been diverted, circling over the Medal of Honor. His chain of command recommended a dense cloud cover. He then led his wingman and two him for the decoration but, when the award packet of the other A-1Es down through a hole in the overcast reached , General Bruce K. Holloway, then skies and down a valley leading to the camp. Air Force Vice Chief of Staff, advised against approving Fisher and the A-1Es were making strafing runs against it. Giving Etchberger the nation’s highest award would the attacking troops when one of the aircraft was hit by reveal the existence of the top-secret radar site in Laos. ground fire. The pilot, Major D.W. Myers, crash landed This was something that the United States did not want to on the airstrip at the camp, and ran from his burning disclose, as the radar site had been operating in violation plane to seek refuge down an embankment. With enemy of international law. The result was that, after President troops all around him, it appeared certain that he would Lyndon B. Johnson (acting on Holloway’s advice) declined be captured before a rescue helicopter could reach him. to award the Medal of Honor to Etchberger, the latter’s widow received a posthumously awarded Air Force Cross Fisher, quickly realizing his fellow airman’s predicament, in a private ceremony in the Pentagon. made a perilous landing on the airstrip. The steel planking runway was torn up and littered with debris. As he taxied In 1986, almost 20 years after Etchberger’s death, the Air under fire, Fisher saw Myers run from his hiding place. Force declassified the mission on which Etchberger had Fisher stopped his A-1E, and Myers climbed aboard. been killed. A group of Air Force veterans and retirees now Dodging shell holes and debris, Fisher then took off safely requested that Etchberger’s Air Force Cross be upgraded to despite many hits on his aircraft by small arms fire.16 an Air Force Medal of Honor, as originally recommended. Congressman Earl Pomeroy of North Dakota, utilizing Figure 8 shows then Major Fisher (left) and Major D.W. the mechanism of Section 1130, started the process. “Jump” Myers, Vietnam, March 10, 1966. The photo was

12 JOMSA taken after Fisher’s rescue of Myers from the A Shau endangered the South Vietnamese, as they were between Valley; Fisher’s A-1E Skyraider is in the background in the coast and the enemy. Vietnam in 1966. Bennett decided to strafe the advancing enemy soldiers. Since they were North Vietnamese regulars, equipped with heat-seeking Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAM) 7, the risks in making a low-level attack were great. Ignoring the dangers, however, Bennett dropped down and opened fire with his four small machine guns. The enemy troops scattered and began to fall back under repeated strafing.

As Bennett’s airplane pulled up from its fifth attack, a missile rose up from behind and struck the plane’s left engine. The explosion set the engine on fire and knocked the left landing gear from its stowed position, leaving it hanging down. The canopies over both Bennett and the Marine spotter also were pierced by fragments from the explosion.

Bennett now veered southward to find a field for an emergency landing. As the fire in the engine continued to spread, he was urged by the pilot of an escorting OV- 10 to eject because the wing of Bennett’s plane was in danger of exploding. But, when Bennett learned that his observer’s parachute had been shredded by fragments in the explosion, and that his fellow American could not eject, Bennett elected to ditch in the Gulf of Tonkin. He made this choice despite knowing that his cockpit area would very likely break up on impact, since no pilot had ever survived an OV-10 ditching.

As Bennett touched down, the extended landing gear dug Figure 8: Maj. Bernard F. Fisher (left) and D.W. “Jump” into the water. The Bronco spun to the left and flipped Myers, Vietnam, March 10, 1966. The photo was taken after over nose down into the sea. His Marine compatriot Fisher’s rescue of Myers from the A Shau Valley; Fisher’s A-1E managed to escape, but Bennett, trapped in his smashed Skyraider is in the background, credit: . cockpit, sank with the plane. His body was recovered the next day. Bennett’s posthumously awarded Air Force Other recipients: Medal of Honor was presented to his widow by Vice President Gerald R. Ford on August 8, 1974.17

Captain Steven L. Bennett, June 29, 1972 Colonel George E. Day, August 26, 1967 On June 29, 1972, Captain Bennett, a forward air controller, was flying an OV-10 “Bronco” on an artillery With an Air Force Medal of Honor, Air Force Cross, Air adjustment mission near Quang Tri City, South Vietnam. Force Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star and more A Marine gunfire spotter occupied the rear seat of the than 70 other decorations and medals, George Everett lightly armed reconnaissance aircraft. “Bud” Day is the most highly decorated living American. He was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Gerald After controlling gunfire from United States naval vessels R. Ford on March 4, 1976. off-shore and directing air strikes against enemy positions Born in Sioux City, Iowa in February 1925, then for about three hours, Bennett received an urgent call for 42-year-old Major Day was flying an F-100F on a strike assistance. A small South Vietnamese unit was about to mission over North Vietnam on August 26, 1967 when be attacked by a much larger North Vietnamese force his plane was hit by ground fire. Forced to eject, he and, without immediate help, the unit was certain to be was unconscious when he hit the ground. Day’s right overrun. Unfortunately, there were no friendly fighters arm was broken in three places, and his left knee was left in the area, and supporting naval gunfire would have

Vol. 62, No. 2 (March-April 2011) 13 himself. Yet, despite his many injuries, he continued to offer maximum resistance. His personal bravery in the face of deadly enemy pressure was significant in saving the lives of fellow airmen who were still flying against the enemy.

Day remained a prisoner of war in North Vietnam until his release on March 14, 1973. A photograph of Day is at Figure 9; he is the most highly decorated living American.

Major Merlyn H. Dethlefsen, March 10, 1967 On March 10, 1967, then Captain Dethlefsen was participating in an attack against the steel works at Thai Nguyen, located about 50 miles north of Hanoi, North Vietnam. He was piloting one of four F-105 “Thunderchiefs.” and their task was to go in ahead of a strike force of fighter-bombers and attack the SAM complex, antiaircraft guns, and automatic weapons ringing the target. On the first pass against these enemy defenses, the F-105 flight leader was shot down and his wing man was forced to withdraw with severe battle damage. Dethlefsen, however, decided to continue the attack on his own. He managed to evade an intercepting MiG-21 by flying into Figure 9: Colonel George E. “Bud” Day is the most highly heavy enemy antiaircraft fire, but his F-105 was seriously decorated living American, credit: United States Air Force. damaged. badly sprained. He also was blind in the left eye due to Captain Dethlefsen nonetheless made repeated strikes a blood clot or bruise. Day was immediately captured with his wingman against the defense positions, even by North Vietnamese militia, taken to a prison camp, after they became obscured by the smoke and dust of interrogated, and severely tortured. the exploding bombs being dropped by friendly fighter- bombers. After his guards relaxed their vigilance, Day escaped into the jungle and began the trek toward South Vietnam. Despite injuries inflicted by fragments of a bomb or rocket, he continued southward on foot. He survived only on a few berries and uncooked frogs. Day managed to evade enemy patrols and reached the Ben Hai River where he encountered United States artillery barrages. Then, using a bamboo log float, Day swam across the river and entered the demilitarized zone. Due to delirium, he lost his sense of direction and wandered aimlessly for several days. After a number of unsuccessful attempts to signal United States aircraft, Day ran “right into the path of the Viet Cong … he tried to take off running, but after the fourth or fifth step, the enemy started firing at him.”18 Day was shot in the hand and leg and was recaptured.

He was returned to the prison from which he had escaped and later was moved to Hanoi after giving his captors false information. By now, Day was totally debilitated and unable to perform even the simplest physical task for Figure 10: Major Dethlefsen receives the Medal of Honor from President Lyndon B. Johnson, credit: United States Air Force.

14 JOMSA Then, after evading a second MiG-21, Dethlefsen was propelled grenades. diving through the smoke and haze to locate the missile complex when he was again hit by flak. Ignoring the The Americans operating the radar that night were killed danger, Dethlefsen made a final dive bombing attack and almost immediately. Etchberger’s team, which was a strafing run with 20-mm cannon fire, which effectively resting nearby, managed to escape the initial slaughter destroyed two missile sites. He then returned to Takhli and take cover on a ledge at about 3 a.m. After a short Air Base in Thailand with his crippled airplane. time, everybody was wounded or dead except Etchberger, who singlehandedly held off the North Vietnamese with For this action over North Vietnam, Dethlefsen was an M-16. awarded the Medal of Honor. It was the third award to an airman for the . The presentation was As dawn broke, a CIA-operated UH-1H Huey helicopter made at the White House by President Lyndon B. Johnson managed to reach the stranded Americans. Ignoring the February 1, 1968. Figure 10 shows Dethlefsen receiving hail of bullets pinging all around him, Etchberger now the decoration from President Johnson.19 carried one injured comrade to the helicopter; he also helped another to reach safety. Chief Master Sergeant Richard Etchberger, March 11, 1968 As the CIA helicopter began to fly away, the enemy let loose a hail of fire. At least one round hit Etchberger as Chief Master Sergeant “Dick” Etchberger is the most he was being raised into the aircraft or just after he had recent Air Force Medal of Honor recipient. His Air Force been pulled inside. He bled to death before he could reach Crosss was upgraded to a Medal of Honor using the medical care in Thailand. provisions of Title 10, U.S.C. Section 1130 (permitting a Member of Congress to request that a military A total of 12 Americans had been killed, as well as 42 decoration be awarded regardless of time limitations; Thai and Laotian army personnel, but seven had survived, see earlier above). Etchberger’s widow had received three of them as a direct result of Dick Etchberger’s 20 his posthumously awarded Air Force Cross in 1968; the bravery under fire. Medal of Honor was presented to Etchberger’s three sons 1st Lieutenant James P. Fleming, November 26, 1968 in 2010. Etchberger’s Medal of Honor is unique: it is the first Medal of Honor to an individual serving in the James P. Fleming is one of two helicopter pilots highest enlisted grade in any service; no other E-9 has to be awarded the Air Force Medal of Honor. He been awarded the decoration. received it for the daring rescue of an Army long range reconnaissance patrol on November 26, 1968. On that In March 1968, Etchberger and 15 airmen, along with day, then 1st Lieutenant Fleming was piloting a UH-1F two CIA officers and a forward air controller, were living light utility transport helicopter. His aircraft, and four at in Laos. This was a highly secret radar other helicopters (two of which were gunships), were facility needed by the United States Air Force to direct returning to their base for refueling and rearming when strike missions in Laos and North Vietnam. Just 15 miles an emergency call for help was received from a six-man from the North Vietnamese border, the radar site was Special Forces reconnaissance team. The Green Berets critical to the success of Operation Rolling Thunder, the were penned up next to a river near the Cambodian border, ongoing bombing campaign begun by the Air Force in with enemy forces on the three remaining sides. March 1965. But the site was highly classified because it was illegal, since an international agreement, signed by 14 Despite being low on fuel, Fleming and the four countries in Geneva in 1962, prohibited the stationing of helicopters immediately changed course and sped to any military personnel in Laos. In fact, concerned about the area. As Fleming and the other aircraft descended the legality of the radar site, the Air Force had ‘honorably to attack the enemy positions, one was struck by enemy discharged’ Etchberger and the other airmen and they fire and crash-landed. Its crew was picked up by one of were working at Lima Site 85 as ‘civilian employees’ of the transport helicopters which, low on fuel and carrying Lockheed Aircraft Services. extra personnel, returned to its base. A second helicopter, Determined to eliminate the threat posed by the secret dangerously low on fuel, also had to pull out of formation installation, the North Vietnamese attacked Etchberger and return to base. The remaining gunship made several and his fellow Americans on March 11, 1968. During passes, firing away with its mini-guns, but the intense the night, hundreds of enemy soldiers climbed the 5,600 return fire from enemy machine guns continued. foot mountain on which the radar site was built and, in Fleming, piloting the only remaining transport helicopter, the darkness, attacked with automatic weapons and rocket

Vol. 62, No. 2 (March-April 2011) 15 descended over the river to evacuate the team. Unable to fire from the surrounding hills. Incredibly, after Jackson land because of the dense foliage, he hovered just above returned to Da Nang, the crew of his C-123 discovered the river with his landing skids braced against the bank. that not a single bullet had touched their aircraft during The lone remaining gunship continued its strafing runs, the entire fight.22 but heavy enemy fire prevented the Special Forces team from reaching Fleming’s helicopter. President Lyndon B. Johnson presented Jackson with the Air Force Medal of Honor at a White House ceremony Although advised by radio to withdraw, Fleming decided on Jan. 16, 1969. A recent photograph of Joe Jackson at to make another rescue attempt before completely McChord Air Force Base, Washington, is at Figure 11. exhausting his fuel. He dropped down to the same spot and found that the American soldiers had managed to move closer to the river bank. The men dashed out and clambered aboard as bullets pierced the air, some smashing into the helicopter.

But Fleming and his UH-1F made it into the air, and the gunship then returned safely to Duc Co, arriving with their fuel tanks nearly empty. For his role in this miraculous rescue, in which not a single life was lost, Fleming was awarded the Medal of Honor. He received the decoration at the White House from President Richard M. Nixon on May 14, 1970.21

Colonel Joe M. Jackson, March 12, 1968

On May 12, 1968, then Lieutenant Colonel Jackson, piloting an unarmed C-123 transport aircraft, performed a daring rescue of a three-man Air Force Combat Control Team at Kham Duc, South Vietnam. Figure 11: Colonel (ret.) Joe Jackson (right), credit: United On that day, an Army Special Forces camp located at States Air Force. Kham Duc was overrun by enemy forces, who had taken the forward outpost and were in complete control of the Colonel William A. Jones III, September 1, 1968 air strip. Located in a valley, the airstrip was surrounded on all sides by mountainous terrain. On September 1, 1968, then Lieutenant Colonel Jones led a flight of four A-1H Skyraider aircraft on an escort mission. The flight was accompanying two helicopters Jackson, who had flown from Da Nang to Kham Duc, sent out to rescue the pilot of an F-4 Phantom, which had was orbiting over the battle area when he learned that, in been shot down about 20 miles northwest of Dong Hoi, the evacuation of the camp by air, a three-man Combat North Vietnam. Control Team had inadvertently been left behind. Another C-123 transport, ahead of Jackson in the traffic pattern, Arriving over the area, Jones made several low passes managed to land successfully on the airstrip littered across a valley to find the pilot and pinpoint enemy gun with debris, including a wrecked helicopter, but failed positions. On one pass, he felt an explosion beneath to evacuate the team. his aircraft and his cockpit was filled with smoke. Disregarding the possibility that his aircraft might still Jackson then descended rapidly from 9,000 feet and made be on fire, Jones waited until the smoke cleared, and an assault landing on the strip under heavy enemy fire. continued his search. He finally spotted the downed pilot After he stopped, a rocket fell in front of the transport. A “near a towering rock formation.” dud, it bounced harmlessly toward the nose of the plane without exploding. As enemy gunners occupying a position near the top of the formation opened fire on the Skyraider, Jones realized Jackson had landed near the spot where the three men that the enemy gun position had to be destroyed before a had been reported to be hiding. After they sprinted to the rescue could be made. He himself attacked with cannon aircraft, and climbed aboard, Jackson quickly took off and rocket fire while relaying the pilot’s location by under a mortar barrage and a hail of automatic weapons radio. While making his second pass, Jones’ aircraft was

16 JOMSA hit again and his cockpit was set ablaze. He now tried to Levitow had suffered a concussion and had some 40 eject, but the damaged extraction system only jettisoned wounds on his back and legs. Despite his wounds, the canopy without pulling him from the cockpit. Levitow who was stunned and bleeding profusely moved forward in the compartment and flung himself on the flare Before the fire in his Skyraider died out, Jones was badly to keep it from rolling. Levitow then dragged himself and burned and his radio transmitters were disabled. Despite the flare back toward the cargo door and tossed it out. The his severe burns, he returned to his base, landed his flare ignited just as it cleared the aircraft. As the citation damaged aircraft safely, and insisted on passing on the for his Medal of Honor puts it, “Sergeant Levitow, by his downed pilot’s exact location before he would submit to selfless and heroic actions, saved the aircraft and its entire medical treatment. The downed pilot was rescued later crew from certain death and destruction.” that day. Levitow subsequently spent two and one half months in Sadly, Jones died in an aircraft accident in the United a hospital recovering from his injuries. He then returned States before the Air Force Medal of Honor could be to Vietnam where he completed 20 more missions as a presented to him. As a result, Jones’ widow received the loadmaster. Levitow retired from active duty in 1974 and decoration from President Richard M. Nixon at the White died in 2000 at age 55.24 A photograph of Levitow is at House on August 6, 1970.23 Figure 12 (credit: USAF).

Airman 1st Class John L. Levitow, February 24, 1969

On February 24, 1969, Airman 1st Class John Lee Levitow threw himself on a flare that was about to explode inside an AC-47 gunship. For saving the lives of the crew, he was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Nixon in a White House ceremony on January 14, 1970. Levitow’s Medal of Honor is unique: he is the lowest ranking airman man to receive the decoration.

Airman Levitow was the loadmaster of an AC-47 “Dragon Ship” on February 24, 1969, and routinely flew on a combat air patrols over South Vietnam. Levitow’s gunship was patrolling in the vicinity of Tan Son Nhut, when the nearby Army base at Long Binh came under a Viet Cong mortar attack.

Diverted to help in the defense of soldiers at Long Binh, the gunship launched flares to help locate enemy positions and, firing its miniguns, knocked out two enemy mortar positions. Then, as the AC-47 flew toward other enemy targets, an enemy mortar shell struck the plane’s right wing. The result was a huge explosion that put a two-foot hole in that wing, shook the aircraft violently, and riddled the fuselage with 3,500 pieces of white-hot shrapnel. Figure 12 : Airman 1st Class Levitow, credit: United States Air Force. At the time the mortar round struck their aircraft, Levitow and another crewman were standing near the open Airman 1st Class William H. Pitsenbarger, April 11, cargo door, dropping parachute illumination flares. The 1966 explosion knocked both airmen to the floor of the aircraft, and a flare that they were handling fell inside the cargo In October 2000, the posthumous Air Force Cross that compartment. Spewing toxic smoke, this magnesium flare was awarded to Airman “Pits” Pitsenbarger was upgraded was soon going to separate explosively from its canister to the Air Force Medal of Honor. This was the first such and ignite, with disastrous consequences. upgrade and is one of only two.25

Vol. 62, No. 2 (March-April 2011) 17 Born in Ohio in 1944, Pitsenbarger joined the Air Force after graduating from high school in 1962. After completing basic training, he volunteered for para-rescue work and subsequently completed the Army’s basic airborne training and the Navy’s scuba diving school. He also completed rescue and survival medical training. Airman Pitsenbarger arrived in Vietnam in August 1965 and soon had completed 250 missions, including one in which he hung from an HH-43’s cable to rescue a wounded South Vietnamese soldier from a burning minefield. This action earned him the Airman’s Medal and the Republic of Vietnam’s Medal of Military Merit and Gallantry Cross with Bronze Palm.

On April 11, 1966, an infantry company of 134 soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division (the “Big Red One”) was surrounded by a Viet Cong battalion of approximately 500 troops. In a fierce firefight, the North Vietnamese surrounded and pinned down the Americans. As the battle went on, the number of United States casualties grew steadily.

When Army helicopters could not land in the battle zone because there were no clearings in the “triple canopy” Figure 13: Pitsenbarger, credit: United States Air Force. jungle, the Air Force’s 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron received an urgent call to evacuate the wounded. This was because only the Air Force HH-43 Huskie helicopters, with cables and winches, could hoist the injured from the jungle.

Pitsenbarger was the rescue and survival specialist aboard “Pedro 73,” one of the two HH-43s on the mission. Pedro 73’s crew, while under fire and hovering in a hole in the forest below the tallest trees and barely large enough for the helicopter, saw that the ground troops desperately needed help loading wounded into the litter. Pitsenbarger volunteered to be lowered to the ground to help. He descended a hundred feet into the firefight with a medical bag, a supply of splints, a rifle and a pistol.

On the ground, Pitsenbarger organized and speeded the evacuation, which allowed the HH-43s to rescue nine soldiers on several trips. Ordinarily, Pitsenbarger would have returned to the helicopter, but he chose to stay on the ground. As the fight continued, Pitsenbarger’s helicopter was badly damaged by ground fire and forced to withdraw. But, rather than escape with the last Huskie, Pitsenbarger chose to stay on the ground and aid the wounded. Soon the firefight grew too intense for the helicopters to return.

As darkness fell, Pitsenbarger not only cared for the Figure 14: Pitsenbarger in para-rescue gear, credit: United wounded, but also collected and distributed ammunition States Air Force.

18 JOMSA to the surviving soldiers. In the early evening, he was 1968 and his remains were repatriated to the United States killed fighting alongside the remaining infantrymen. The in 1974. On March 4, 1976, President Gerald R. Ford Viet Cong withdrew during the night, and the following presented the Air Force Medal of Honor to his parents.27 morning U.S. forces were able to recover survivors and the fallen.26 Lieutenant Colonel Leo K. Thorsness, April 19, 1967 Leo K. Thorsness was awarded the Air Force Medal of For coordinating the successful rescues, caring for the Honor for his heroism over North Vietnam on April 19, wounded and sacrificing his life while aggressively 1967. Eleven days later, he was shot down and then spent defending his comrades, Pitsenbarger received the Air more than six years in captivity. On the day in question, Force Cross on June 30, 1966. After review, the original then Major Thorsness was piloting an F-105 Thunderchief award was upgraded, and on December 8, 2000, the and was part of a strike force sent out to suppress SAM Medal of Honor was presented to his family in a ceremony sites. Helped by his electronic warfare officer, Thorsness at the United States Air Force Museum. Photographs first detected one North Vietnamese missile site as it was of Pitsenbarger are at Figures 13 (portrait) and 14 (in about to launch an attack, and destroyed it with an AGM- scuba gear). 45 Shrike missile. Almost immediately, another site was discovered. Thorsness flew through heavy antiaircraft Captain Lance P. Sijan, November 9, 1967 fire to score direct hits on the site with cluster bombs.

Lance Peter Sijan is the first Air Force Academy During this second strike, however, Thorsness’ wingman graduate to be awarded the Air Force Medal of Honor. was hit and the two crew members bailed out. As he On November 9, 1967, then 1st Lieutenant Sijan was circled the descending parachutes, a MiG-17 appeared in a systems officer in an F-4 “Phantom” on a bombing the area. Thorsness promptly attacked the enemy plane, mission over North Vietnam. When the aircraft rolled in but his first shots missed. Attacking again, he closed on the target, its ordnance malfunctioned (the bomb fuses rapidly and poured cannon fire into the MiG. Just as he detonated prematurely) and the plane was engulfed in fire. pulled up sharply to avoid a collision, he saw the enemy fighter go into a tight spin and crash. Sijan managed to eject from his disabled aircraft, and successfully evaded capture for 46 days. During this Thorsness then left the area because he was low on fuel. time, he was seriously injured (fractured skull, broken While searching for a KC-135 Stratotanker, he learned right hand, compound fracture of left leg) and suffered from the Search and Rescue Center that two helicopters from shock and extreme weight loss due to lack of food were waiting for an escort before attempting a rescue of and water. He was eventually captured by the North the downed crew. As a result, Thorsness flew back alone, Vietnamese on Christmas Day 1967. Despite his crippled and then spotted four MiG-17s as he neared the bailout condition, however, Sijan overpowered one of his guards area. Disregarding the danger to himself, he immediately and crawled into the jungle. Freedom was short-lived; attacked the superior force and damaged one of the enemy he was recaptured after several hours, and transferred aircraft with a long burst of cannon fire. He then drew to another prison camp. Sijan was then kept in solitary the others away by diving and flying close to the ground confinement and interrogated at length. until they gave up pursuit.

During his interrogation, he was brutally tortured. Sijan, Although now critically short of fuel, Major Thorsness however, he did not divulge any information. After advised another F-105 to fly to the nearest tanker when lapsing into delirium, he was placed in the care of another the crew of that aircraft reported that it would have to prisoner, but little could be done for him. During Sijan’s bail out unless their aircraft could be quickly refueled. intermittent periods of consciousness until his death, Thorsness then flew to a forward base where he landed he never complained of his physical condition and, on with only a ten-minute supply of fuel remaining. several occasions, spoke of future escape attempts. Due to his extreme weakness, adverse living conditions, Thorsness was shot down 11 days after this mission. insufficient clothing, and an inadequate diet, Sijan Following his release from Hanoi, more than six years contracted pneumonia on January 18, 1968. Removed later, Thorsness received the Air Force Medal of Honor from his cell on January 21, 1968, he died at the Hoa Lo from President Nixon in a White House ceremony on (the so-called “Hanoi Hilton”) prison camp. October 15, 1973.28 Figure 15 shows Major Thorsness (left) at Takhli in early 1967. Figure 16 shows Colonel Sijan was posthumously promoted to Captain in June Thorsness receiving his Medal of Honor from President

Vol. 62, No. 2 (March-April 2011) 19 Nixon after his release from captivity in North Vietnam; accompanying Thorsness were his wife, Gaylee, and his mother.

Captain Hilliard A. Wilbanks, February 24, 1967

Hilliard Almond Wilbanks was awarded a posthumous Air Force Medal of Honor for his extraordinary heroism while aiding South Vietnamese troops on the ground. On February 24, 1967, Captain Wilbanks was a forward air controller in an unarmed Cessna O-1 “Bird Dog” aircraft. He was about 100 miles north of Saigon, and was flying reconnaissance for a South Vietnamese Ranger battalion near Dalat, South Vietnam. Wilbanks discovered hostile units concealed on two hilltops. He promptly called in helicopter gunships by radio and alerted the South Vietnamese advancing into the area. Realizing that Wilbanks had thwarted their ambush, the enemy attacked him with a barrage of mortar, machine gun, and automatic weapons fire. Much of the enemy fire hit Wilbanks while he was marking enemy positions with white phosphorus rockets for the gunships. He also opened fire with an M-16 rifle that he carried in his plane when he spotted South Vietnamese troops that were pinned down and about to be overrun. Wilbanks fired out of the side window of his O-1 aircraft, which distracted Figure 15: Then Major Thorsness (left) at Takhli, early 1967, the enemy troops and momentarily slowed their advance. credit: United States Air Force.

Figure 16: Then Colonel Thorsness receives the Medal of Honor from President Nixon, credit: United States Air Force.

20 JOMSA The outnumbered Rangers were able to withdraw as the gunners in the area. Young again concealed himself in attackers diverted their fire against Wilbanks low-flying the dense foliage and continued to evade the enemy aircraft. Despite the repeated strikes from enemy fire on throughout the day despite the increasing pain from his his plane, Wilbanks continued to cover the withdrawal. burns. After 17 hours, Young was finally rescued by a On his third pass, however, Wilbanks was severely helicopter that he attracted with his radio and by firing wounded and crashed in the battle area. tracers with his revolver. He then immediately informed his rescuers of the position of his fellow crew member. The South Vietnamese managed to rescue Wilbanks Young was awarded the Medal of Honor by President from the wreckage of his plane, but he died while being Lyndon B. Johnson in a Pentagon ceremony on May 14, evacuated to a hospital. For his heroic support of the 1968.30 South Vietnamese, Wilbanks was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. The presentation was made to his Conclusion widow by Secretary of the Air Force Harold Brown at the Pentagon on January 24, 1968.29 Despite its relative youth (when compared to its Army and Navy counterparts), the Air Force version of the Medal of Captain Gerald O. Young, November 8-9, 1967 Honor already has a rich and varied history. The story of its design alone is a fascinating one and this, when combined Shortly before midnight on November 8, 1967, Captain with the relatively few recipients, just 14 airmen, means Young, who was piloting an HH-3E “Jolly Green that the decoration arguably is the rarest of all United Giant” rescue helicopter, was dispatched to evacuate the States gallantry awards. The author thanks the Institute of survivors of an Army reconnaissance team. The soldiers Heraldry for assistance in preparing this article and OMSA were surrounded and about to be captured in enemy-held member Mel Mueller for his help in obtaining photographs territory in Laos; two helicopters had already been lost of the Air Force Medal of Honor. trying to rescue them. Endnotes Young and his crew were flying as backup for another helicopter on this night operation. The first aircraft 1. Letter, Colonel John E. Horne, USAF Personnel Services Division, managed to pick up three members of the team before to Lieutenant Colonel. J. T. French, Army Quartermaster General Heraldic Officer (QMGMCO), subject: Establishment of extensive battle damage forced it to withdraw. The Distinctive Air Force Decorations, February 9, 1961. commander of the helicopter informed Young that intense 2. Letter, Colonel John E. Horne, USAF Personnel Services Division, enemy fire meant that it would be all but impossible to to Lieutenant Colonel Whiting, QMGHO, subject: Designs for rescue the two soldiers left behind. New Air Force Medal of Honor, September. 14, 1961. 3. Letter, Lieutenant Colonel. J.T. French, QMGHO to Chief of Staff, Ignoring the danger to himself and his crew, however, U.S. Air Force, subject: 1st Indorsement, Designs for New Air Force Medal of Honor, November 28, 1961. Young guided his helicopter down into the flare-lit 4. Ibid. darkness, touching down on a slope not far from the two 5. Ibid. The “U.S. ten-cent coin” referenced in this letter is the so- soldiers. Both wounded, they were loaded aboard under called “Mercury” dime, which featured the profile of Mercury on heavy attack with enemy troops closing in. As Young’s its obverse. While this dime had been replaced in 1946 by a new ten-cent coin honoring Franklin D. Roosevelt, both coins were still aircraft moved forward for takeoff, it was fired on at in circulation in the early 1960s, and those individuals involved in point-blank range. The result: it plunged downward and the design process apparently believed that any Liberty profile they crashed in flames in an upside-down position. used would be too similar to that of Mercury and that this would somehow diminish the prestige of the new Medal of Honor. This Young dropped out of a cockpit window and rolled down logic, however, seems flawed. the slope, his parachute afire. Although badly burned, he 6. Letter (2d Indorsement), from Colonel Russell G. Pankey, Chief, Personnel Services Division, USAF to Lieutenant Colonel Whiting, extinguished the flames and helped another crew member, QMGHO, subject: Designs for new Air Force Medal of Honor, who had also escaped. Young then tried to reach his January 15, 1962. burning helicopter but was driven back by the intense 7. Ibid. heat. When enemy troops approached the crash scene, he 8. Memo from Elizabeth Will, Chief, Heraldic Specialist Office, for Commanding Officer, Institute of Heraldry, subject: Air Force led them away from wounded crewman he had rescued, Medal of Honor, May 4, 1962. who was now hidden in the underbrush. 9. Ibid. 10. Letter, David E. Finley, Chairman, Commission of Fine Arts, to At dawn, Young reached a cleared area and, using flares Colonel Harry D. Temple, Commanding Officer, Institute of and radio signals, helped to pinpoint his location with Heraldry, September 25, 1962. flares and radio signals. He broke contact, however, 11. Memo from Benjamin W. Fridge, Special Assistant for Manpower, Personnel and Reserve Forces, Department of the Air Force, to when he realized that he was being used as bait by enemy Eugene M. Zuckert, Secretary of the Air Force, May 1, 1963.

Vol. 62, No. 2 (March-April 2011) 21 12. Memo for Sculpture Division, Institute of Heraldry, from Opal V. Patriot: The Life and Wars of Colonel Bud Day. New York: Little, Landrum, subject: Distinctive Air Force Medal of Honor, April Brown, 2007. 3, 1964. 19. www.af.mil/information/heritage (Merlyn H. Dethlefsen) 13. Title 10, United States Code (U.S.C.), Section 8741; Air Force 20. Borch, endnote 15, above. Instruction 36-2803, Air Force Awards and Decorations Program, 21. www.af.mil/information/heritage (James P. Fleming) June 15, 2001, Notes 2, 3. 22.http://www.af.mil/information/heritage/person. 14. Department of Defense Manual 1348.33-V1, Manual of Military asp?dec=&pid=123006517 (Joe M. Jackson) Decorations and Awards: General Information, Medal of Honor, 23. www.af.mil/information/heritage (William A. Jones III) and Defense/Joint Decorations and Awards, November 23, 2010, 24. http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/jllevitow.htm 15-16. 25. Airman First Class William H. Pitsenbarger, “Wright Patterson Air 15. For the story of Etchberger’s heroism, see Fred L. Borch, “Tribute: Force Base Museum,; www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/ Richard Etchberger - A secret hero finally gets his due,”Vietnam, factsheet.asp?id=1126; Fred L. Borch and Jeffrey B. Floyd, The February 2011: 58-59. Air Force Cross: A History of Extraordinary Heroism, 2004: 84-85 16. http://www.af.mil/information/heritage/person. 26.http://www.af.mil/information/heritage/person. asp?dec=&pid=123006513 (Bernard F. Fisher); see also, Bernard asp?dec=&pid=123006523 (William Pitsenbarger) Fisher and Jerry Borrowman, Beyond the Call of Duty: The Story 27.http://www.af.mil/information/heritage/person. of an American Hero, 2004. asp?dec=&pid=123006524 (Lance Sijan) 17. http://www.airforcehistory.hq.af.mil/PopTopics/MOH-bios/Bennett. 28. http://www.pownetwork.org/bios/t/t031.htm (Leo K. Thorsness) html (Steven L. Bennett) 29.http://www.af.mil/information/heritage/person. 18. www.pownetwork.org/bios/d/d051.htm (Day, George Everett). For asp?dec=&pid=123006530 (Hilliard A. Wilbanks) more on Day, see his autobiography, Return with Honor (Arizona: 30.http://www.af.mil/information/heritage/person. Camplin Museum Press, 1991). See also, Robert Coram, American asp?dec=&pid=123006535 (Gerald O. Young)

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