In the corner I happened to notice the signature of Col. George "Bud" Day - Medal of Honor winner and outspoken critic of John Kerry - so I couldn't resist getting a picture:
For more about Col. Day: Maximum Resistance
Posted on 09/11/2004 7:36:50 PM PDT by day10
My 2 boys and I went to an airshow today in Cincinnati and the Lockheed C-141C Starlifter "Hanoi Taxi" was there. This was Starlifter number 66-0177, the first to carry American POWs from Hanoi to freedom in 1973. While walking through it you see the equipment box that the POW's signed as they flew back home:
In the corner I happened to notice the signature of Col. George "Bud" Day - Medal of Honor winner and outspoken critic of John Kerry - so I couldn't resist getting a picture:
For more about Col. Day: Maximum Resistance
Source link goes to Maximum Resistance as well.
Cool! I was a member of the 445th AW when the plane's history was discovered. As a chaplain in the 445th, I prayed at the aircraft's dedication. One of the POW's (who is now a 3-star) who flew on the plane spoke...a real American hero. BTW, he did not talk about the medals he recieved...he didn't even wear his uniform.
Thanks a lot.
ping
Bump-Ping...
If our government would have done what John F'n Kerry recommended when he came back from Paris after consorting with the enemy, everyone of those names would have belonged to a dead man!
Kerry said we should immediately abandon South East Asia, and pay whatever damages North Vietnam decided we owed them.
These men would no longer represent a bargaining chip to the enemy, and would have been killed.
There was some really cool stuff at the show today. A Corsair, a P-40 Warhawk, 5 T-28's - 1 painted for each service branch.
There was also aerobatics stuff and a wing walker that my 2 boys (7 and 9) got a real charge out of.
General Paul Tibbetts was there signing books - had to explain to the boys who he was. Seems odd.
Have you taken your boys to the Air Force Museum in Dayton? If not, it's really worth the trip!
Oh yes - several times! As a matter of fact they are going back on 9/27 for a school activity. They are in heaven when they go there.....
Thanks...you have a real record of American history,
Cool Thread. A piece of American History.
More info on some of the names:
Herv Stockman - flew more than 50 combat missions during WWII piloting a P51. Flew the first U-2 mission over the Soviet Union. Watched Migs scramble in futility, two colliding, and follow helplessly, far below.
Speaking before the public about his Hanoi captivity:
The last of the morning's speakers was Hervey Stockman, a fighter pilot who saw action in all our hot and cold wars: World War II, Korea, the first U2 flight over the Soviet Union, and Vietnam, where his plane crashed and he spent six years in a sevenbysevenfoot prison cell in Hanoi. He had been reluctant to talk about that ordeal as a prisoner of war, but the class officers asked him to try, feeling that in his character and his generous heart he represented the best of what the class set out so long ago to be.
"Preparing these words was much like visiting an old, untended graveyard," Hervey Stockman said, looking out at us from the lectern, a trim man with a warm smile. He began by describing the brutal treatment he received in the early months of his imprisonment -- "I was a foul, decrepit wreck of a man" -- and then recalled the slow process by which at last "my mind was awakened and reunited to my body and I had the will to live and regain my strength." He spoke slowly, barely controlling his emotions, but without selfpity, and when he walked back to his seat, his slightly stiff gait betraying his long captivity, the class rose in an ovation that had no relation to the applause usually heard at the end of a speech: mere handclapping. It had tremendous solemnity -- it was emotional without being sentimental -- and it rumbled through the auditorium. Most of us were crying or reaching for a handkerchief; Caroline later said she had never seen men cry so comfortably. Perhaps we were crying for ourselves. In that moment we were healed.
ROBERT LEWIS STIRM
Lieutenant Colonel - United States Air Force
Shot Down: October 27, 1967
Released: March 14, 1973
I was born 41 years ago in San Francisco, California. I attended San Mateo
Park School, San Mateo High School, and San Mateo Junior College, California.
I then went to the University of Colorado where I studied Mechanical
Engineering. I entered Aviation Cades in the summer of 1973. My operational
assignments were:
96 FTR INTCP SQ, Newcastle County ARPT, F-94C
57 FTR INTCP SQ, Keflavik, Iceland, F-89C/D
432 FTR INTCP SQ, Minneapolis International, F-89D/H
54 FTR INTCP SQ, Ellsworth AFB, F-X9J
64 FTR INTCP SQ, McCord AFB, F-102
318 FTR INTCP SQ, McCord AFB, F-106
32 FTR INTCP SQ, So. Esterberg, F-102
333 TAC FTR SQ, Tahkli, F-105
In addition, I flew the F-86D in training and spent three years on a Tactical
Evaluation team as an F-106 pilot. I also have a bit of T-39, T-33 and B-25
time. My total flying time is 3700 hours. I went to SQ Officer School, Maxwell
AFB, Alabama, Instrument Pilot Instructor School, and took a course in
Interceptor Weapons School. I have been flight Commander for several
squadrons, Training Evaluation Officer, and was the Training and Project
Officer. I flew on the winning NATO-AI RCENT Fighter Competition team and was
high scoring pilot on the 32 FIS winning "William Tell-1965" team.
On 6 February 1955 I was married and I have four children, Lorrie Alynne,
Robert L. Jr., Roger David and Cynthia Leigh. They all reside in Foster City,
California. I am a member of the Episcopal Church, I like photography,
woodworking, skiing, swimming and sailing. l am unsure of my future plans. I
will possibly stay in the Air Force and attend the Air War College, or I may
retire and work in the San Francisco Bay area.
I was shot down over Hanoi 27 October 1967 while leading a flight of F-105Ds
on Canal Des Rapides Bridge. They captured me immediately on landing and I was
displayed in Hanoi that night. I was detained in various cells of five
different POW camps and was in solitary confinement a total of 281 days. They
turned me over to US control on 14 March 1973.
During my imprisonment in North Vietnam, I had an outstanding opportunity to
take an introspective look at myself in the past and in the present, and
reaffirm my faith and confidence in Christianity, our government, and our way
of life. I reviewed as much of my past life as I could remember, which,
surprisingly enough, was more than I would otherwise believe, and evaluated
for myself my lifetime objectives and goals. I never once lost faith in our
government, our President, or my family. With the help of other POWs, I was
able to understand a little more of Christianity and its importance in my
life. God has truly blessed our Flag, our Nation and the American People.
Those many heartrending letters I've received proved to be an overwhelming
emotional experience and I am truly grateful to the patriotically spirited
citizens. I thank you all and may God bless you.
December 1996
Robert Stirm retired from the United States Air Force as a Colonel. He lives
in California.
Burst of Joy - Air Force Col. Robert Stirm, an American POW in Vietnam, is reunited with his family.
Awesome stuff - this is just great!
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