POW Medal of Honor Recipients – Vietnam
Thank you, Soldiers
“The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.”
– G. K. Chesterton
“I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives, I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.”
– Abraham Lincoln
Captain Lance Peter Sijan, USAF, Medal of Honor
His outstanding resistance to torturous interrogation was a great inspiration to POWs in the North Vietnamese prison camps and to generations of American fighting men since.
The Lance P. Sijan Story – Into The Mouth Of The Cat (1998)
Tribute to Lance Sijan by the Green Berets
About Captain Sijan
Medal of Honor Citation
Air Force Association – Lance Sijan
Dakota Joan Komorowski
The complete “Taps,” originally “Il Silencio,” (The Silence), in honor of Lance Sijan.
TAPS …The Last Post:
A few years ago, a friend visited the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in the village of Margraten, about six miles from Maastricht. There lie buried 8,301 American soldiers killed in the battles to liberate Holland in the fall and winter of 1944–45. Sgt. Bill Dukeman, 101st Airborne Division, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Second Battalion, Company C, of “Band of Brothers” fame, is buried there. He was killed in the battle of “The Crossroads” in northern Holland.
The Dutch hold an annual memorial concert every September at the cemetery to remember and honor the Americans who died to free them in Operation Market Garden and subsequent efforts to eject the German army from Holland. Sgt. Dukeman, like many other fallen GIs, was “adopted” by a Dutch family. Dukeman’s family in the States was contacted and hosted in Holland, and his gravesite is decorated each year by his Dutch “family.” They keep his portrait in their home, displayed in a place of honor. Fathers pass this obligation down to their sons in Holland. This version of the original “Taps” music is played by a 13-year-old Dutch girl named Melissa Venema. The conductor of the orchestra is André Rieu from Holland.
Many of you may never have heard “Taps” played in its entirety. The original version of “Taps” was called “Last Post” and was written by Daniel Butterfield in 1801. It was rather lengthy and formal, as you will hear in this clip, so in 1862 it was shortened to 24 notes and renamed “Taps.” Melissa Venema is playing it on a trumpet, whereas the original was played on a bugle. Watch this young lady’s face while she is playing. This is no performance: it is an act of pure, unadulterated reverence.
Colonel George Everett "Bud" Day, USAF, Medal of Honor
Colonel George Everett “Bud” Day was the first Commander of the MISTY FACs. The MISTY unit was formed as a result of his leadership and vision. A fighter in 3 wars—World War II, Korea, and Vietnam—he is the most decorated US military soldier since General Douglas MacArthur. Colonel Day is the recipient of 70 decorations, the majority of which are combat awards.
A Real Man
“I am, and have been all my life, a loyal American. I have faith in my country, and am secure in the knowledge that my country is a good nation, responsible to the world community of nations. I believed in my wife and children and rested secure in the knowledge that they backed both me and my country. I believe in God and that he will guide me and my country in paths of honorable conduct. I believe in the Code of Conduct of the U.S. fighting man. I believe the most important thing in my life was to return from North Vietnam with honor, not just to return. If I could not return with my honor, I did not care to return at all. I believe that in being loyal to my country that my country will be loyal to me. My support of our noble objectives will make the world a better place in which to live.”
– Colonel George Day, from the Super Sabre Society Website
Tribute by Kenneth Sampson, USAF, 363 Combat Missions
That Spirit of the Great American Airman – Misty One
Misty One died July 27, 2013 at age 88. Misty One was a POW in the Hanoi prison 5 ½ years. Misty One was Colonel George (Bud) Day. He was called Misty One because he was the Commanding leader of the 416th Tac Fighter Squadron, Phu Cat Air Base, South Vietnam. Their call sign was Misty.
The Mistys were two seat F-100 Fast FACs operating over Laos and North Vietnam. On August 27, 1967 Bud Day was shot down over North Vietnam. He was captured, beaten, and tortured. After 5 days he escaped. Without his boots he traveled 25 miles south, eating only fruit and frogs. After 10 days he made it across the Ben Hai River into South Vietnam, two miles from the U.S. Marine base at Con Thien. He was captured again and shot in the leg and hand. He was then forced to walk north to a prison at Vinh. Later in the Hanoi prison he was beaten and starved much more. He was hung from that infamous hook in the ceiling of the main torture cell with his body fluids dropping to the floor.
John McCain was Bud Day’s cell mate. John McCain said that Bud Day was the bravest man he ever knew and his fierce resistance and resolute leadership set the example of how to return with honor. Colonel Day was the Air Force’s most highly decorated living airman with The Medal of Honor and the Air Force Cross.
In 2003, Colonel Bud Day’s influence and persuasive power forced the introduction of the “Keep Our Promise to America’s Military Retirees Act” for vote by the U.S. Congress. It did not pass.
But later, through considerable lobbying effort, Colonel Day was the main driving force that vigorously pressed for and ultimately passed and secured Tricare For Life for military retirees over age 65.
He was the high spirit of the American airman.
The American airman has the power of giving his own life for the life of a larger cause. The American airman holds his personal suffering to no account. The American airman throws down in battle his all and says, “I will stand or fall with this cause.”
So every time your computer announces, “A Tricare Claim Has Processed”, think of and remember that high American airman spirit that was Colonel George (Bud) Day — Misty One. His fame is bright. Forever!
Now gentlemen, are you ready for the salute?
I salute the bravest of our contemporaries, Colonel George (Bud) Day!