Posted on 07/28/2013 8:13:17 AM PDT by kristinn
Retired Air Force Colonel Bud Day, a celebrated war hero and veteran's activist, died Saturday. He was 88.
Day, a Medal of Honor recipient, was a prisoner of war in Vietnam for more than five years. He also received the Purple Heart.
William Everett, regional commander for the Military Order of the Purple Heart, said Day was very giving of his free time, attending military ceremonies until his health no longer allowed him to. One of his last appearances was at his own birthday celebration Feb. 24.
"Very, very sad," Everett said, of hearing about Day's death Saturday morning. "It's a very sad moment."
In an email Everett circulated to contacts and members of the MOPH, Everett said the funeral was expected to be Thursday with burial at Barancas National Memorial Cemetery in Pensacola. More details about arrangements were expected to be released Monday, Everett said.
(Excerpt) Read more at nwfdailynews.com ...
I think he was acquainted with my brother, who is buried at Barancas. May he rest in peace.
I remember one time him telling us that while a prisoner in North Vietnam, they would get a half-bowl of maggoty rice that the guards would often piss in. One of the other prisoners wouldn’t eat it.
Col Day said he told the man, “You’ve got to eat that. They WANT you to throw it out. If you don’t eat it, you will die. They want that. Eat it no matter what they do to it, no matter what it taste like, it is the difference between death and life. Stand up to the by living. It’s the only way!”
The man just couldn’t eat the peed on rice. He died a few months later.
Lord Jesus, rest the soul of Thy servant Bud with the angels and saints.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, amen.
Thanks for posting the link to Col. Day’s awe inspiring POW experiences.
He and his generation of warriors were so short-changed and betrayed by politicians. God Bless him and all the Viet Vets!
Bttt
RIP
Having just finished “Unbroken” about Louie Zamperini
(another unbelievable hero!)
I will be reading Coram’s “American Patriot”.
The horrific abuse these brave men experienced & survived with faith locked in their hearts astounds me.
Sweet blue yonder, I didn’t see the full rollup of Bud Day’s “salad bar”.
What a loss. Our greatest generation is fading fast.
I met him at an enlisted breakfast at Lajes Field back around 85-88 (the years I was there)
Still have a picture in my “stuff” somewhere.
Another great, but humble, man is gone. RIP.
A warrior’s warrior. RIP, Sir.
Had the honor to chat with this fine officer and gent at FWB and again at Cheney’s Salute in 2000. RIP, Sir.
Properly, references to him should be “Medal of Honor Recipient, Retired Air Force Colonel Bud Day”, in that order.
It could even be argued that if a Medal of Honor Recipient was elected President of the United States, that the Medal of Honor would still rank ahead of his title.
I agree. I think it was Truman who once said when awarding one of these that he rather have that medal than be president.
Not to discount his bravery in action, but I am most thankful for his heroism in saving us from John Kerry.
RIP, sir.
Both courage and grace come from a strong inner core. And this gentleman had a rock solid one.
Fly with the Angels, Col. Day!
I have had a blessed career in the USAF that is still ongoing. In that time I consider my time at Air Command and Staff College the highlight...why? I was fortunate enough to be on the Gathering of Eagles team. My assigned “Eagle” was Lieutenant general Harold G. “Hal” Moore. However, Colonel Bud Day was among the group. There was nothing more awesome than that final week...among those great heroes of our country. I will never forget the honor it was to meet them and how I and the whole team were humbled to be allowed to present them to our class. Some would say flying high performance jets and all the travel and the many missions sounds exciting, it is but window dressing to having time with people like the amazing Bud Day. God bless his family for a grateful nation mourns their loss with them.
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