FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Bernard F Fisher ~ 13 January 2025

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[Kathy in Alaska]

 

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~ Hall of Heroes ~
 

Bernard F. Fisher

Info from here.

 

           

Bernard Francis "Bernie" Fisher (pronounced Bernerd) (January 11, 1927 - August 16, 2014) was a retired United States Air Force officer and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. He was the first USAF member to receive the medal in the Vietnam War.

Born in 1927 in San Bernardino, California, Fisher was raised and educated in Utah, calling Clearfield home. He served briefly in the Navy at the end of World War II, enrolled at Boise State Junior College in 1947, and transferred to the University of Utah in Salt Lake City in 1949. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

From 1947 to 1950, Fisher was a member of the Air National Guard. Before he was able to complete his undergraduate degree at the University of Utah, he was commissioned into the Air Force in 1951. After pilot training, he served as a jet fighter pilot in the Air Defense Command until 1965, when he volunteered for duty in Vietnam. From July 1965 through June 1966, he flew 200 combat sorties in the A-1E/H "Spad" Skyraider as a member of the 1st Air Commando Squadron located at Pleiku Air Base, South Vietnam.

On March 10, 1966, he led a two-ship element of Skyraiders to the A Shau Valley to support troops in contact with the enemy. Six "Spads" were striking numerous emplacements when the A-1 piloted by Major D. W. "Jump" Myers was hit and forced to crash-land on the airstrip of a CIDG-Special Forces camp. Myers bellied in on the 2,500-foot runway and took cover behind an embankment on the edge of the strip while Fisher directed the rescue effort. Since the closest helicopter was 30 minutes away and the enemy was only 200 yards (180 m) from Myers, Fisher quickly decided to land his two-seat A-1E on the strip and pick up his friend. Under the cover provided by the other A-1s, he landed in the valley, taxied to Myer's position, and loaded the downed airman into the empty seat. Dodging shell holes and debris on the steel-planked runway, Fisher took off safely despite many hits on his aircraft by small-arms fire.

The rescue at A Shau was similar to an event that occurred on August 4, 1944 during World War II. On that date, Captain Richard "Dick" Willsie's P-38 was damaged by flak near Ploieşti, Romania. After both engines failed, Willsie crash-landed but was rescued from capture when Flight Officer Dick Andrews landed his P-38 on the field, squeezed Willsie into the cockpit, and flew back to base. By remarkable coincidence, both Willsie and Andrews were also involved in the A Shau rescue. Willsie was the commanding officer of the 602nd Air Commando Squadron to which Myers was assigned, and Andrews flew top cover during the entire rescue.

Fisher had earned a Silver Star the day before while flying support for the same battle.

Fisher returned to the United States, and, on January 19, 1967, was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Fisher returned to the Air Defense Command and flew jet interceptors until he retired to his hometown of Kuna, Idaho, where he lived with his wife Realla until her death on April 27, 2008.

He died on August 16, 2014

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Fisher's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. On that date, the special forces camp at A Shau was under attack by 2,000 North Vietnamese Army regulars. Hostile troops had positioned themselves between the airstrip and the camp. Other hostile troops had surrounded the camp and were continuously raking it with automatic weapons fire from the surrounding hills. The tops of the 1,500-foot hills were obscured by an 800 foot ceiling, limiting aircraft maneuverability and forcing pilots to operate within range of hostile gun positions, which often were able to fire down on the attacking aircraft. During the battle, Maj. Fisher observed a fellow airman crash land on the battle-torn airstrip. In the belief that the downed pilot was seriously injured and in imminent danger of capture, Maj. Fisher announced his intention to land on the airstrip to effect a rescue. Although aware of the extreme danger and likely failure of such an attempt, he elected to continue. Directing his own air cover, he landed his aircraft and taxied almost the full length of the runway, which was littered with battle debris and parts of an exploded aircraft. While effecting a successful rescue of the downed pilot, heavy ground fire was observed, with 19 bullets striking his aircraft. In the face of the withering ground fire, he applied power and gained enough speed to lift-off at the overrun of the airstrip. Maj. Fisher's profound concern for his fellow airman, and at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.

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Other honors

Fisher is the namesake of Colonel Bernard Fisher Veterans Memorial Park in Kuna; Fisher Park in Clearfield, Utah; the Bernard Fisher Highway, a portion of Utah State Route 193 that passes near Hill Air Force Base; and the Bernard F. Fisher Room, located at the 353d Special Operations Group at Kadena Air Base, Japan, and displaying special operations memorabilia. In 1999, a Military Sealift Command vessel, the MV Maj. Bernard F. Fisher (T-AK-4396) was named for him. In 2010 the Boise Rescue Mission started a homeless veterans transitional living program. With permission from Col. Fisher, the Motto of the program is Colonel Fisher's famous quote after he rescued his comrade: "When a man is down, you don't leave him there." The statement is on the wall of the entrance to the living quarters of the River of Life Mission in Boise.

Fisher's damaged A-1E The A-1 Skyraider (AF Ser. No. 52-132649) that Fisher flew into the A Shau Valley was saved and restored and is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio.

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[left that other site]

Hi Everybody!

(((HUGS)))

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ Hall of Heroes: Bernard F Fisher ~

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[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

To all our military men and women, past and present,

THANK YOU
for your service!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...did you get snow? Did you and Tippy get to walk?

We are just getting over HIGH WINDS ALL NIGHT AND MORNING.
Warm temps and ice everywhere.

[left that other site]

Hitting the sack early tonight.

I think I’m over my cold but I have 6 lessona tomorrow and want to get enough sleep.

I did the saddest job of the year today...taking down the Christmas Tree and packing it away till next year.

[left that other site]

We got about four inches of snow.

I’m all shovelled out but it took two days because I wasn’t feeling well at all.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, radu...hope all the ice and snow storms have passed you by.

We had serious HIGH WINDS all night and morning. They have finally stopped.
Had to go out on the deck to rescue my stuff before it blew off the deck (where it would stay til the snow is gone) at 2am.
Temps are in the high 30s now, and everything is scoured and nothing but ice.

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

Yes, whatever they thought, yesterday, that might hit us today never came to pass. It fizzled out overnight.
Sunshine with 40 degrees has melted most of the snow today.

You aren’t kidding about the wind up there today. Yeowy! I pulled up the Lake Hood cam this afternoon and lunged for the volume knob on my speakers. The wind was deafening, blowing across the mic. Still pretty blustery at the airports even now.
Sloppy, wet parking lots and all those puddles will be black ice tonight. My guess is the roads are the same. Good thing you don’t have to go to the office in the morning.

Bet it was a lot of fun having to go out at 2 a.m. to rescue stuff on the deck so it wouldn’t blow off. NOT! Better than having to leave it in the yard until spring though.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Sad indeed....

I keep the lights on my stair railings all year round. I enjoy seeing them come on every day.

[luvie]

Bernard Francis "Bernie" Fisher
January 11, 1927 - August 16, 2014
Retired United States Air Force officer
and Medal of Honor Recipient.
The 1st USAF member to receive the medal
in the Vietnam War.
What a brave hero this Flyboy was!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Sleep well! And drive carefully to your lessons.

[Kathy in Alaska]

So glad that it fizzled out...ice and snow would not have been “fun” at all.

My biggest save was my snow shovel, I checked my front porch shovel and it is safe as well. The white post office mail bucket I have there is tied down with a bungee cord...experience from years past of finding it down the street. Tomorrow I will start on clearing the deck of tree trash...already did it once.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Major Fisher and Lt... Col Gene Deatrick

[MoochPooch]

Evening, Kathy! Thanks for another bio!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, luvie...a true hero!

[radu]

Howdy, luvie.

Any improvement in your weather today?

We had a brief reprieve wit sunshine and low 40s and that got rid of most of the snow. Back to 30s with bitter lows the next few days.

[radu]

Glad you managed to get the shovel before it blew off the deck. You NEED that. Good move tying down the mail bucket. I recall you having to chase it down in the past.
With winds like you had, I’m surprised anything stayed in place. That was CRAZY!!

Yep, ice and snow aren’t fun and that’s what we usually get here - - the combination.

[luvie]

Hey there, radu!

It wasn’t bad. I guess it got up to the high 40s. Tomorrow a bit warmer and on up till next Friday, when it’s supposed to get up to 67! 😵‍💫 I’m stuned!

Glad you had a bit of a change and some weather that wasn’t cringeworthy. The 30s will certainly not be welcome! Glad most of the snow is gone. It’s pretty when it’s brand new, but not so much after a few days. LOL!