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 ...
Col. Day would have rather not gotten the Medal. I was a photographer at Eglin AFB when he was the JAG there, about 1977-78. He was a good and humble man who did his best in trying times. I don't doubt he was still doing his best right up to his last moment here.
I note in the article about him in the NY Times, they said "Colonel Day represented military retirees in a federal court case aimed at securing what they said were health benefits once promised by their recruiters." I was one of those retirees. I distinctly remember my recruiter telling me that my wife and I would have free healthcare for life, if I stayed in long enough to retire. I did, but Congress did what it seems to have done throughout history. Nothing good for the troops they made promises to.
My 19YO daughter is in Navy Basic Training, beginning her 5th of 8 weeks. I told her not to trust them to do what they've promised for her, either. I did not tell her not to serve, since it's likely she'll meet some of her own heroes while she does, like I did.
WRM, MSgt. USAF(Ret.) 1973-1997.
I had the privilege of working with the Misty FACs and knew some of them well. They were a great bunch of guys, the best, and their skill and courage were widely known by those of us around in those days. It was a very small unit, but it was full brave American men who risked it all day after day against a wily and tenacious enemy.
Here is a book written about them, Bury Us Upside Down, and of course Colonel Bud Day plays a prime role.
You have FReepMail.
I will never forget Colonel Day’s appearance in those devastating TV ads that sunk John Kerry in 2004.
RIP, Sir.
RIP.
Bud was a fighter, never gave in, never gave up, even as a POW.
He was one of the featured people in a privately made “Unauthorized Autobiography of Jane Fonda”, made in 1988 and shown on the Arts & Entertainment channel and at least one local channel in DC. (Other participants were POW Mike Benge, AID official Dolf Droge, and myself).
Damned he looked good when he spoke, and he spoke well and to the point.
Later he helped the Swiftboat Veterans for the Truth About John Kerry (and endorsed the book, “Unfit for Command”), and then supported the unfortunately short-lived Vietnam Veterans Legacy Foundation.
He was kind enough to sign some Topps cards of himself for my daughter, son (OIF), and my granddaughter.
He was “old school”, “Greatest Generation”, and an “Officer and a Gentleman”. If there is any military man who should be a role model for today’s youth, (besides their fathers, brothers, uncles, etc), it should be Budd.
An All-American, all the time. RIP, Budd. Fly High!
The Misty FACs had balls the size of cantaloupes. And the other group was the Thud drivers. Day was shot down FACing for a Thud, which was probably the single most dangerous mission profile a fighter pilot could fly in Vietnam.
A good and honorable man. He is young in heaven now. What a man, what a life.
RIP
Thank You, Col. Bud Day... Wheels up!
Want to read an exceptional book about Misty FAC’s? Read, “Bury Us Upside Down So The World Can Kiss Our Ass”. The Misty’s kept their call sign number. Bud was Misty 1. Exceptional group of individuals. Don Shepperd (Misty 34) wrote the book about them and was Director of the Air National Guard (ANG). Dick Rutan (Misty 40) along with Jeana Yeager were the first to fly around the world without refueling or stopping in the Voyager. Ron Fogleman (Misty 86) was Chief of Staff of the AF (CSAF). Tony McPeak (Misty 94) was also CASF.
I met him at wright-Patt in 1970’s. What a great man, we will see him again! Amen!
A great man that I first became aware of via the Swift Vets and POW’s for Truth. Some videos that Day participated in...
http://www.swiftvets.com/videos/theyserved.mov
http://www.swiftvets.com/videos/theyserved.wmv
http://www.swiftvets.com/videos/why.mov
http://www.swiftvets.com/videos/why.wmv
Very sad to me...
These gentlemen are giants to me. My father’s generation loved the whole American experience, and lived it daily.
It showed in everything they did.
In this graceless day and age, they are sorely and dearly missed.
RIP Colonel. Thank you for your service and may G-D be with you.
Rest in peace, sir
“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.”
Today, their children slave away in factories making tennis shoes. With no end in sight. Karma is a bitch.
Col Day was one of my heroes from the minute I joined the Air Force over 40 years ago. He went through hell as a POW. My only regret is he would never say a disparaging word about any other POW, and that is certainly an honorable trait. But that included John McCain, who was anything but honorable as a fellow POW. Rest in peace Col Day. Your sacrifices for this nation will never be forgotten.
RIP!
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