Elmer Davis receives the Distinguished Flying Cross from Air Force Gen. John W. Handy, left, Friday at Pope Air Force Base. Davis put his life on the line to help rescue a pilot in 1952. (Staff photo by Marc Hall )
Posted on 02/12/2005 7:29:17 PM PST by Former Military Chick
A Sanford man was honored Friday with the Distinguished Flying Cross for helping rescue a downed fighter pilot behind enemy lines more than 50 years ago.
Elmer Davis receives the Distinguished Flying Cross from Air Force Gen. John W. Handy, left, Friday at Pope Air Force Base. Davis put his life on the line to help rescue a pilot in 1952. (Staff photo by Marc Hall )
Elmer Davis was a 19-year-old Air Force medic when he volunteered to join helicopter pilot Owen Clark on a rescue mission near Chongdan, North Korea, on Nov. 13, 1952.
Davis, now 71, never forgot the mission but went on with his life.
Elmer Davis stands near a photo of himself in his Air Force uniform. (Staff photo by Marc Hall )
He left the Air Force after his 3-year commitment and joined the Army as an infantryman. He did three tours in Vietnam during his 18-year Army career and retired as a sergeant first class.
It wasn't until exactly 51 years after the harrowing helicopter rescue in North Korea that Davis began the journey that led to his recognition Friday.
Davis said he was searching the Internet in November 2003 for items about his Air Force unit, the 3rd Air Sea Rescue Squadron, when he came across a message that was posted on koreanwar.org. It was titled, "Searching for Korean medic, Elmer Davis."
Owen Clark's stepson, Danny Mize, posted the message.
"I'm trying to help my stepfather, Owen Clark, locate a medic who flew with him on a rescue mission in North Korea in November of 1952," Mize wrote.
"Owen and Elmer rescued a downed pilot, Quinn Fuller. We recently arranged a reunion between Owen and Quinn, but we'd sure like to complete the picture by contacting Elmer Davis."
The picture was completed Friday as the three men got together at Pope Air Force Base and Davis received his award.
Fuller and Clark had received bronze stars for the rescue. Davis had received nothing.
Air Force Gen. John W. Handy, commander of the U.S. Transportation and Air Mobility commands, presented Davis with the Distinguished Flying Cross, saying it is better late than never.
Gudrun Davis applauds as her husband is presented the medal. (Staff photo by Marc Hall )
"This might have gone lost to history," Handy said. "Thank goodness we're able to stand here and recognize this incredible feat of heroism.
"A Distinguished Flying Cross is a small and humble way of recognizing what you did all those years ago."
Ready volunteer
Davis wasn't even on duty when he volunteered for the 1952 rescue mission. An Air Force captain came into his Quonset hut and said he needed a medic.
Davis remembers looking at the medic on duty and getting a blank stare. "So I said, 'Yes, sir. I'll do it'" Davis said.
Davis said he jumped up and bounded out of the hut. The captain stopped him.
"This is going to be a hot one," the captain said. "Where is your carbine?"
Davis grabbed a weapon from the on-duty medic and wondered what he'd gotten himself into.
"I thought, 'Oh boy. Nice going, buddy.'" Davis said.
Meanwhile, Quinn Fuller, then 22, was hiding in rice paddies, waiting for the H-5 Dragonfly helicopter to appear.
Handy said helicopter rescues behind enemy lines were rare in those days. It was thought to be too dangerous, he said.
Fuller, now 74, had been flying a napalm run in an F-84 when his plane was shot and disabled. The right wing was on fire, and the left wing was blown off. It was his first combat mission.
"Things started out that day bad and continued bad," Fuller said.
The only bright spot was that Clark and Davis were on the way. Fuller saw them when they were about a mile away.
Davis said he and Owen were taking heavy fire as they approached Fuller's position.
Clark lowered the chopper and released the hoist. Fuller grabbed it - incorrectly in his rush - and a winch lifted him to the helicopter. Davis was lying down halfway out of the chopper, waiting to haul Fuller inside.
"As soon as he got up there, I grabbed ahold of his jacket," Davis said.
Just then the winch stopped.
As bullets whizzed by, Clark dropped the helicopter back to the ground, and Davis yanked Fuller in by his jacket.
"I am convinced to this day that if I'd fallen out of that chopper, there'd be two of us dead," Fuller said.
The Air Force, 52 years later, has recognized the role Davis played, not only in that rescue but in the development of the helicopter rescue mission.
"By this successful rescue, Sergeant Davis helped prove the future value of the helicopter for rescue use in war and peace," Davis' citation reads.
Davis is quick to point out that he couldn't have done it without the expert flying of Clark. He said he's just glad it's over.
"I didn't seek this out," Davis said. "I knew there was an award involved. I just wondered why I never got it.
"The only thing, looking back, that I would have done differently is get out of the helicopter and give (the enemy) a one-finger salute."
Staff writer Justin Willett can be reached at willettj@fayettevillenc.com or 323-4848, ext. 370.
Distinguished Flying Cross **PING**
Heroic story...Thank God this one had a happy ending.
Hear Hear. Congratulations! Brother Veteran.
Thanks for the ping!
Thanks for PINGING folks. What an amazing Vet he is!
Still looks pretty spry too.
/Odds&Ends/DistinguishedFlyingCross.jpg)
Thanks for the ping!
Thanks for the ping....terrific story....
Bump
Hero's ~ Bump!
Thanks!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.