Col George "Bud" Day RIP

[kham]

Veterans lost one of their most vocal advocates, passed outside Eglin AFB, FL. I have no information on the cause of death but Col Day has had health issues since his return from captivity in North Viet Nam after the war. Col Day earned the Medal of Honor for his actions during his time as a guest of the North Vietnamese. The citation reads as follows:

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

Collings Foundations F-100F And Colonel Bud Day

[bbjohn]

I'd heard of this gentleman before, but I hadn't realized all he did. Forget Rambo. Forget the "action movie heroes" we see these days. This man was the genuine article.

Men like Col. Day are a very rare breed indeed.

- Big Bad John

[Mynock]

The true stories always beat the action movies. RIP Bud. Thank you for your service.

[DangerGirl]

We used to live in the same neighborhood, and he was a tireless champion of veterans' rights and benefits as well as being a hell of a nice guy. He will be missed.

[PM2K]

He sounds like he was a helluva man.

Interesting to note, in the times I had the privilege to chat with veterans and serving members of the Armed Forces, they've told me it always seems the ones who talk the most about their deployments and experiences in a boasting way are the ones who did the least... The ones who went through the most or who performed their duty above and beyond the call were the ones you rarely hear talk about it, and if they do, it is always very reluctantly, or they just shrug and say "I was just doing my job."

The down side of this is these stories which deserve to be told too often aren't... so it is rare indeed to have a full accounting of someone's bravery.

Thanks for doing your part to keep the story alive, Kham.

[bbjohn]

He sounds like he was a helluva man.

Interesting to note, in the times I had the privilege to chat with veterans and serving members of the Armed Forces, they've told me it always seems the ones who talk the most about their deployments and experiences in a boasting way are the ones who did the least... The ones who went through the most or who performed their duty above and beyond the call were the ones you rarely hear talk about it, and if they do, it is always very reluctantly, or they just shrug and say "I was just doing my job."

The down side of this is these stories which deserve to be told too often aren't... so it is rare indeed to have a full accounting of someone's bravery.

Thanks for doing your part to keep the story alive, Kham.

I've found that the real heroes and the real "tough guys" rarely brag about what they've done. That's because they realize that, more often than not, there was a horrible price to be paid. Having paid that price, or seeing how others paid it, gives someone a certain perspective that causes someone to lose any desire for bragging.

Here's to all the quiet heroes out there we never hear about.

- Big Bad John