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GEORGE DAY
Colonel - United States Air Force
Shot Down: August 26, 1967
Released: March 14, 1973

Bud Day was born on February 24, 1925. He dropped out of high school in 1942 to join the Marine Corps where he spent thirty months overseas in the
Pacific Theatre, leaving active service in 1945. He joined the Army Reserve,
acquired a Juris Doctor from the University of South Dakota in 1949, and a
BS and Doctor of Humane Letters from Morningside College, Sioux City, Iowa.

The "smartest move of my life", says Bud was his marrying Doris Marlene
Sorensen in 1949. Bud was recalled by the USAF as a Second Lieutenant in
1951 and he attended jet pilot training followed by two tours in Korea and
four years flying fighters in England (He made Air Force history with the
first no-chute bailout from an F-84-F in 1957!)

The Days adopted their first son, Steven, and were soon reassigned as
Commandant of Cadets, St. Louis University, Missouri. Bud acquired a Master
of Arts in political science. They adopted a second son, George E. Jr., in
1963 and the family spent three years in Niagara Falls, N.Y., where Colonel
Day flew fighters. The family was increased by twin adopted girls, Sandra
M., and Sonja M., just before Bud was assigned to fly a F-100 fighter bomber
in South Vietnam. After seventy-two missions, he was reassigned as Commander of MISTY, the first jet FAC unit flying in North Vietnam. He was shot down on the sixty-seventh mission while striking a missile site. During ejection he had three breaks in his right arm, and a dislocated left knee.

Colonel Day was the Commander of several Vietnamese prisons, the Zoo,
Heartbreak Hotel, Skidrow, and Misty and Eagle Squadrons. He was
incarcerated for sixty-seven months, and executed the only successful escape
from North Vietnam into the South. He was recaptured near Quang Tri City,
South Vietnam, after about two weeks of freedom. He was shot in the left leg
and hand, and had shrapel wounds in his right leg. For this he was heavily
tortured, since he was labeled as having a "bad attitude." He was "hung",
his arms were broken and paralyzed.

As Commander of the Barn in the Zoo, he was the last of the "Old Heads"
tortured - a four month stretch in irons, solo, and massive beatings with
the fan belt and "rope". Of six, he was one of three who survived from
Heartbreak Hotel in 1970.

Asked many times what sustained Americans in this environment, Colonel Day
answers: "I am, and have been all my life, a loyal American. I have faith in
my country, and am secure in the knowledge that my country is a good nation,
responsible to the people of the United States and responsible to the world
community of nations. I believed in my wife and children and rested secure
in the knowledge that they backed both me and my country. I believe in God
and that he will guide me and my country in paths of honorable conduct. I
believe in the Code of Conduct of the U.S. fighting man. I believe the most
important thing in my life was to return from North Vietnam with honor, not
just to return. If I could not return with my honor, I did not care to
return at all. I believe that in being loyal to my country that my country
will be loyal to me. My support of our noble objectives will make the world
a better place in which to live."

Note: Colonel Day has written a book telling of his experiences in
more detail. It is entitled, "Return with Honor."

Colonel Day's decorations include our nation's highest - the Medal of Honor,
Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Air
Medal, Purple Heart, POW Medal and other Vietnam service awards and medals.
He has numerous awards and medals from his service prior to Vietnam.
His family resides in Glendale, Arizona. His wife was intensely active in
POW/MIA affairs and was chosen TAC wife of the year as well as receiving
other honors for service to the POW-MIA cause. They expect to continue
residence in Phoenix and enter law and politics after retirement from the
service.

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 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.