Col. Bud Day ,medal Of Honor Winner Passed Away Age 88

[Call me bubba]

colonel "Bud"day passed away on sat. he was 1 of the few Vietnam Pow's who earned the 

Medal of honor

here is the story of this hero

(edited from original format)

 

Col. Bud Day, an Air Force fighter pilot who was shot down in the Vietnam War,

imprisoned with John McCain in the notorious “Hanoi Hilton” and defiantly endured more than five years of brutality without divulging sensitive information to his captors, earning him the Medal of Honor, died on Saturday in Shalimar, Fla. He was 88.

 

 

George Everette Day, known as Bud, was born on Feb. 24, 1925, in Sioux City, Iowa. He quit high school to join the Marines in 1942

and served with an antiaircraft battery on Johnston Island in the Pacific during World War II.

 

He graduated from Morningside College in Sioux City, obtained a law degree from the University of South Dakota and then received an officer’s commission in the Iowa Army National Guard.

After transferring to the Air Force Reserve, he was recalled to active duty in 1951

and received pilot training.

He flew a fighter-bomber, tracking Soviet planes off the coast of Japan, during the Korean War and then remained in military service.

 

Colonel Day was among America’s most highly decorated servicemen, having received nearly 70 medals and awards, more than 50 for combat exploits. In addition to the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest award for valor, he was awarded the Air Force Cross, the highest combat award specifically for airmen.

 

On Aug. 26, 1967, he was on a mission to knock out a surface-to-air missile site 20 miles inside North Vietnam when his F-100 was hit by antiaircraft fire.

He suffered eye and back injuries and a broken arm when he ejected, and he was quickly captured.

Major Day was strung upside-down by his captors,

but after his bonds were loosened, he escaped after five days in enemy hands.

He made it across a river, using a bamboo-log float for support, and crossed into South Vietnam.

He wandered barefoot and delirious for about two weeks in search of rescuers, surviving on a few berries and frogs.

At one point, he neared a Marine outpost, but members of a Communist patrol spotted him first, shot him in the leg and hand, and captured him.

 

 

Colonel Day represented military retirees in a federal court case aimed at securing what they said were health benefits once promised by their recruiters.

 

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/29/us/col-bud-day-vietnam-war-hero-dies-at-88.html?pagewanted=2&_r=0&pagewanted=all

 

Edited July 29, 2013 by Pittman apartments Sgn

[BrettGC]

We lose so much when living history passes :(
 
<Salute>

[lonewolf]

a toast to absent comrads, thanks man

[jon1]

Here is a picture of his funeral procession being saluted by troops, got it off of Facebook's "Proud of our Military" page.

 

 

 

Edited August 12, 2013 by jon1

[Papa Carl]

Heroes are heroes, no matter there nationality. You don't have to agree with their politics or even their philosophy, but you HAVE to respect their courage.

 

Whether you are an American or not, whether you agreed with the Vietnam War or not, you must respect those who did what they thought was right, and fought for what they believed in.

 

Respect to you sir, rest in peace.

 

 

Carl Taylor (Papa Carl)