Open Letter from VietNam POW USMC/USAF Col. George "Bud"

Col. George "Bud" Day ^ | August 2004 | Col. George "Bud" Day

[Boomer Geezer]

I was under the impression that 1st Lieutenant Audie Murphy was America's "Most Decorated Officer".

Star: PING to this?

Audie Murphy's Military Award List

Military Service Number 01 692 509

Medal of Honor

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star with First Oak Leaf Cluster
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device and First Oak Leaf Cluster
Purple Heart with Second Oak Leaf Cluster
U.S. Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal
Good Conduct Medal
Distinguished Unit Emblem with First Oak Leaf Cluster
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with One Silver Star,
Four Bronze Service Stars (representing nine campaigns) and one Bronze Arrowhead (representing assault landing at Sicily and Southern France)
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp
Armed Forces Reserve Medal
Combat Infantry Badge
Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar
Expert Badge with Bayonet Bar
French Fourragere in Colors of the Croix de Guerre
French Legion of Honor, Grade of Chevalier
French Croix de Guerre With Silver Star
French Croix de Guerre with Palm
Medal of Liberated France
Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 Palm

Reprinted from a letter dated 7 Sept 1979, from the Department of the Army, Office of the Adjutant General and the Adjutant General Center, Washington, D.C. 20314; Subject: Maj Audie Murphy - Authorization for Awards and Decorations

source: http://www.medalofhonor.com/MedalOfHonorAudieLMurphy.htm

[Boomer Geezer]

Drat, blew the formatting ... sorry for the sloppy post.

[cake_crumb]

The formatting looks fine to me.

[BlessedBeGod]

The post is fine...and appreciated.

[the crow]

Good to see some true heroes bump.

[Chieftain]

Thanks for your post and special thanks for your service to our country!

[Mach9]

Yes, I know THAT. But he never escaped and evaded in the South. As to hero--he's the WORD itself.

[vetvetdoug]

Last time I saw all of Mr. Murphy's medals they were in the Willie Nelson Museum across from the Opryland Hotel in Nashville. Why they are there I haven't a clue.

[BamaDi]

I'm not a big McCain fan but what's really noticable with the story about him and the veterans is that he condemed the FIRST ad - he's had no input (that I'm aware of) with regards to the second - the one with the POWs. I met Bud Day after he retired and started practicing law in Ft Walton Beach. In fact, small tidbit, he was Ken Cordier's divorce atty....he's a great guy and he's a true patriot (just show 'em your Medal of Honor Bud) not some political jerk walking around calling himself a hero. This man escaped from a Viet Cong prison and was caught extremely close to the SVN border (I'm thinkning it was two-three weeks time but I could be mistaken). He suffered for his attempt - he got his medals the old fashioned way (hey, am I paraphrasing the Witch Kerry now?) - he earned them. Go Bud - kick a$$! I met a bunch of these guys through the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots (better known as the River Rats). I'm sure there will more of these guys coming forward before this all over!

[Mach9]

So say "I'm sorry--I can't comment on this." DON'T say the swifties or their ads (God knows what the actual subject of the sentence was) are "dishonest and dishonorable." May be straight talk, but it was completely irresponsible straight talk. At best, how the blazes does HE know? At worst, he felt EXACTLY the same way about Kerry as the swifties. What does HE know about Kerry that the rest of us don't?

[BamaDi]

"Colonel Day was the only POW to escape from prison in the South."

You're right, Bud escaped from a prison in the north - he was recaptured less than (and this is the point I'm not sure of) somewhere from 1-5 miles from the border. I'm sure it was closer than 5 miles as I seem to recall that he could actually see the border. That's when he was recaptured.

[zbogwan2]

My God what a great man this Col. Bud is!

JHK couldn't hold a candle to him or the many-unsung Vietnam Era hero’s that are walking around today.

I hope President GWB crushes this cockroach(JFK) in November.

[cubreporter]

Met his family in Arizona. Good people! Bravo to Col. Day. He is a real hero not only to his family but to our country and a veteran to be proud of. God bless him and his family.

[TruthNtegrity]

I am not doubting, for one minute, whether Audie Murphy or Col Day are the most decorated Officer.

But hasn't Co. Hackworth given as his CV, that he is the most decorated Officer? I believe I've heard him introduced that way, when Sean Hannity used to have him on his radio show, early in the Afghanistan war. Maybe he was on Sean's show at the beginning of the Iraq conflict. But clearly, Hack kept finding fault with whatever our soldiers were doing in Iraq, and I guess, Sean dropped him off of his guest list.

Okay, I'm donning a flame-proof suit here. I don't want to sidetrack this thread for one post.

Now, back to the exemplary Col. Day and the disgusting Sen. Kerry.

TNT

[AF_Blue]

A heckuva nice guy, too. Met him through a friend of mine who retained him for legal services.

[YankeeFan]

Exactly. A recipient of the Medal of Honor, yet he only mentions his POW status.

Here’s Col. Day’s CMoH citation:

DAY, GEORGE E.
Rank and organization: Colonel (then Major), U.S. Air Force, Forward Air Controller Pilot of an F-100 aircraft.
Place and date: North Vietnam, 26 August 1967.
Entered service at: Sioux City, Iowa.
Born: 24 February 1925, Sioux City, Iowa.

Citation: On 26 August 1967, Col. Day was forced to eject from his aircraft over North Vietnam when it was hit by ground fire. His right arm was broken in 3 places, and his left knee was badly sprained. He was immediately captured by hostile forces and taken to a prison camp where he was interrogated and severely tortured. After causing the guards to relax their vigilance, Col. Day escaped into the jungle and began the trek toward South Vietnam. Despite injuries inflicted by fragments of a bomb or rocket, he continued southward surviving only on a few berries and uncooked frogs. He successfully evaded enemy patrols and reached the Ben Hai River, where he encountered U.S. artillery barrages. With the aid of a bamboo log float, Col. Day swam across the river and entered the demilitarized zone. Due to delirium, he lost his sense of direction and wandered aimlessly for several days. After several unsuccessful attempts to signal U.S. aircraft, he was ambushed and recaptured by the Viet Cong, sustaining gunshot wounds to his left hand and thigh. He was returned to the prison from which he had escaped and later was moved to Hanoi after giving his captors false information to questions put before him. Physically, Col. Day was totally debilitated and unable to perform even the simplest task for himself. Despite his many injuries, he continued to offer maximum resistance. His personal bravery in the face of deadly enemy pressure was significant in saving the lives of fellow aviators who were still flying against the enemy. Col. Day's conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Armed Forces.

[NCC-1701]

Man, that's impressive! He deserves every prop he gets. Spent 63 MORE MONTHS in country than the dim's candidate. And he made something more of his life when he got back to the world. And, he's one of us. Someone clue me in about something. What was it that J FUBAR K did to elicit such a following?

[GretchenM]

bump

[OESY]

I stand corrected. Thanks. I found the quote on the Net, but it looks like your source is more credible (though I'm reluctant to admit that about the Globe or Newsday).

[GretchenM]

Tonk, thank you so much for your tireless work on this and other issues.

I read that headline link several times about Ramsey Clark shystering for Saddam and the information didn't register till I finally read the article. So much of what is posted on FR is parody that I have to remind myself that Tonk posts the real deal and I need to look into it.

Excerpt: "Clark, an ardent sympathizer with Saddam’s government, will become one of the distinguished members of the panel [of lawyers defending Saddam] ... ."

These people keep pushing the envelope on unbelievable.