V A L O R The Veterans of Vietnam A Publication of the National Vietnam Veterans Committee Volume 1, Issue 2 - Summer 2006 A recap of The National Memorial Day Parade The Forgotten Soldier A Profile of Medal of Honor Recipient Joe Ronnie Hooper By Michael O’Donnell Duty, Honor, Country By Col. George “Bud” Day, USAF-Ret Vietnam: The Long Journey Home A New Documentary from Lou Reda Productions From the Editor Heroes You Should KNow By Tim G.W. Holbert Every generation has its heroes—those who step forward and in 1973. In 1976, already a legend, he was awarded the Medal willingly accept challenges that most individuals would shy from. of Honor. These heroes know not only personal bravery, in the sense that they overcome their fears to put themselves in harm’s way. They Another hero you should know is Staff Sergeant Joe Ronnie also know moral courage, discipline, honesty and fairness, and Hooper. His tale of valor is much greater than merely his deco- practical wisdom—in a word, they have character. rations—which include the Bronze Star, Silver Star, eight Purple Hearts, and the Medal of Honor. SSgt. Hooper, like Col. Day, Lt. General Dave R. Palmer, Vietnam veteran and former Su- was dedicated to his country and his cause, and was willing to perintendent of West Point, recently wrote on the subject of sacrifice himself for them. His inspiring leadership on the battle- character: “Leaders of character know the difference between field is also the stuff of legend, and a legend is what he deserves right and wrong and have the courage to act accordingly; that is, to be. they have the moral fiber to take the harder right instead of the easier wrong.” Joe Hooper died in 1979, and his story of valor has largely been forgotten over time. The National Vietnam Veterans Commit- In this issue of Valor, we profile two men whose stories of tee, recognizing this slight, has recently created an annual award character you should know. Both are heroes. Both deserve to in his name to be presented to another hero of Vietnam. On be remembered. Both represent the finest of the generation of Saturday, November 11, 2006—Veterans Day—the inaugural Joe Americans who willingly accepted the challenge, and served their Ronnie Hooper Award will be presented this other great hero country in Vietnam. of Vietnam, Col. George “Bud” Day. To the readers of this publication, the story of Col. George There are many more heroes you should know. Ones who served “Bud” Day is likely well known. A Marine Corps veteran of the during World War II, Korea, Vietnam—as well as our brave men South Pacific in World War II and two-tour fighter-bomber pi- and women currently in Afghanistan and Iraq. This fall, from lot in Korea, it was during his service in the Air Force during November 8-11 at the American Veterans Center’s Ninth An- Vietnam that he became a legend. Shot down over North Viet- nual Conference, many of these heroes from across the genera- nam on August 26, 1967, Day was immediately captured and tions will converge on Washington, DC, to tell their own stories, subsequently tortured. Rather than submit to the enemy, he not and to demonstrate to the next generation the value of service only refused to cooperate, he made a daring escape, eluding the and sacrifice—and character. While we certainly hope that you enemy for nearly two weeks. Though eventually recaptured and will join us for the event itself, just as valuable would be for you transferred to the notorious “Hanoi Hilton,” his spirit endured. to pass this issue of Valor on to a young person when you are Despite threats, torture, and inhuman living conditions, he con- finished with it, so they can learn of men such as Joe Hooper tinually resisted his captors for six long years, until he was freed and Bud Day, and recognize the true character of America’s vet- Valor: The Veterans of Vietnam Valor: The Veterans of Vietnam - Issue 2. A quarterly publication of the National Vietnam Veterans Committee National Vietnam Veterans Committee 1030 15th St, NW Suite 856, Washington, DC 20005. Telephone: 202- Brig. Gen. R. Steve Ritchie (USAF-Ret) - 777-7272. Fax: 202-408-0624. Honorary Chairman James C. Roberts - President The National Vietnam Veterans Committee is a project of the American Michael Paradiso - Publisher Studies Center, a 501(c)(3) non-profit public educational foundation. Valor Tim G.W. Holbert - Editor/Program Director is mailed to donors to the National Vietnam Veterans Committee who make a contribution of $50 or more per-year. Contributions help to fund the Committee’s various speaker conferences, student programs, the Na- tional Memorial Day Parade, documentary and oral history projects, and this publication. To make a contribution or subscribe, call 202-777-7272. 2 Valor - Issue 2 American Veterans Center’s Ninth Annual Conference November 8-11, 2006 Hyatt Regency Crystal City Hotel Arlington, VA This Veterans Day weekend, join the American Veterans Center as we learn from and honor our military heroes from the Greatest Generation to the latest generation. For the past eight years, veterans of World War II have come to Washington to share their experiences with friends, family, and an admiring public as part of our annual conferences. This year, they will be joined by veterans of eras since, including Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, and Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. This will be an opportunity for veterans of all ages, their friends, and their fans to come together and honor their service and sacrifice. As we celebrate Veterans Day among America’s greatest heroes, we hope that you will join us for a weekend that none who attend will soon forget. Confirmed Topics and Speakers Include The Honorable James Nicholson - Secretary of Veterans Affairs and decorated Vietnam veteran. Lt. Gen. Dave R. Palmer - Former Superintendent of West Point, two-tour veteran of Vietnam, and military historian. Author of the recently published George Washington and Benedict Arnold: A Tale of Two Patriots. Brig. Gen. R. Steve Ritchie - The only Air Force ace pilot of the Vietnam War. Col. George “Bud” Day - Veteran of three wars, recipient of the Medal of Honor for his heroics in during his POW experience in Vietnam. Col. Lewis S. Sorley - Vietnam veteran and renowned historian and author of A Better War: The Unexamined Victories and Final Tragedy of America’s Last Years in Vietnam. Adrian Cronauer - Famed Vietnam disc jockey and subject of the movie Good Morning, Vietnam. Plus Veterans of the legendary Celia Sandys - Noted author and A panel devoted to recipients of our Bob Feller - Baseball Doolittle Raiders of World War II granddaughter of Sir Winston nation’s highest military award: Hall of Famer and Churchill The Medal of Honor veteran of World War II Panel devoted to the Vietnam POW Veterans of the famed “Band of Brothers”, Panels devoted to Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Korea, Experience E Company, 506th PIR, 101st Airborne Vietnam, Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Division PLUS actors who portrayed them Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom in the HBO miniseries Wreath laying ceremonies at the National World The gala Edward J. Herlihy Awards Banquet, War II Memorial, the Korean War Veterans honoring our greatest veterans from World War II Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial through today For a Conference Registration Form or Questions Call 202-777-7272 The American Veterans Center Presents The National Memorial Day Parade On a warm, sunny afternoon, an estimated 125,000 people lined the streets of Washington for the second annual Na- tional Memorial Day Parade. Honoring America’s veterans and war dead from the Revolution through Operation Iraqi Freedom, the spectacular two and a half hour parade included over 3,000 participants, among them 600 servicemen and women recently returned from Iraq and Afghanistan. This was the nation’s first official opportunity to welcome these brave heroes home, and into the pantheon of American he- roes dating back well over 200 years. The parade was spon- sored by the American Veterans Center, the parent organiza- tion of the National Vietnam Veterans Committee. Grand Marshal of the 2006 National Memorial Day Parade was Emmy Award-winning actor Gary Sinise (pictured right), most famous for his role as Lt. Dan Taylor in the film Forrest Gump. In recent years, Sinise has worked to raise awareness about the sacrifices made by members of the military. He is the co-founder of Operation Iraqi Children, a grassroots pro- gram that helps ordinary Americans reach out to the Iraqi people by providing school supplies for children, and sup- ports our troops’ efforts to build a better future for Iraq. The parade ceremonies began shortly before noon with the recit- ing of the Pledge of Allegiance, led by eight recipients of our nation’s highest military award, the Medal of Honor. Immedi- ately following was an Air Force flyover (below), featuring a World War II-era P-51, Korea-era F-86, an A-10 Thunderbolt II, and an Air Force F-15 Eagle. At noon, the flags around Washington were raised from half-staff to full, and the parade stepped off, led by a riderless, caparisoned horse (left) in honor of those Americans who gave their lives for our country. Organized chronologically, from re-enactors of soldiers from the Continental Army, War of 1812, Civil War (pictured left), and Spanish-American War, the parade sought to pay tribute to the sacrifices of all who have served America throughout her history. Following these units of reenactors were hundreds of vet- erans of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Op- eration Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.