Generally, the USAF has the reputation of being the least \u201chardcore\u201d of all of the armed services. No offense to any of our USAF brethren, but IMO that reputation is at least partly deserved. That shouldn\u2019t really surprise anyone; a much smaller portion of the USAF directly and personally engages the enemy than the Army or USMC – or even the Navy. Proportionally more of the USAF is engaged in support. It takes a helluva lot of effort to keep those birds flying.<\/p>\n
Still, some in the USAF do indeed personally go into harm\u2019s way and engage. And some members of that service exhibit truly astonishing valor in combat. I\u2019m about to relate a brief version of one such case, and link to a more detailed \u2013 and riveting – account. And in all of US military history, it is unique in two respects.<\/p>\n
The story is that of Lt Col Joe Jackson, USAF. I won\u2019t attempt to relate the whole story here; our friend Doug Sterner has covered that in great detail \u2013 and far better \u2013 than I ever could on his Home of Heroes website.
\nFor full details, follow the link below to Doug\u2019s website; the story is truly well-written, and transfixing. His story would be difficult to believe were it presented as fiction \u2013 but it\u2019s the God\u2019s honest truth.<\/p>\n
Here are the bare bones of the story:<\/p>\n
In Vietnam in 1968, MACV made the decision to abandon a particular base, During the last failed rescue attempt, Lt Col Jackson was literally flying a routine mail delivery mission in a C-123. Hearing the last failed attempt on the radio, and realizing that he was likely his three brothers-in-arms last hope, Lt Col Jackson went to The unique aspects? Here\u2019s the first: it\u2019s the only MOH action for which photographic evidence of the actual heroic act exists. An aerial photo was taken of Lt Col Jackson\u2019s aircraft while on the ground at The second? This MOH action yielded what is perhaps the ultimate compliment ever given from one warrior to another. That compliment is the title to this article. It was delivered to Lt Col Jackson by one of the men he\u2019d rescued – Sgt Jim Lundie, USAF. It was delivered after Sgt Lundie had just spent 3 days on the ground, surrounded by enemy, hiding and\/or running for his life, expecting at any moment to die or be captured. Sgt Lundie visited the cockpit of Lt Col Jackson\u2019s plane while en route back to base after being rescued. He delivered that compliment then and there, spontaneously, in person.<\/p>\n After reading the detailed account of the rescue, I kinda wonder the same.<\/p>\n Doing this in any aircraft would be an amazing feat of both flying ability and courage. However, I\u2019ve flown in a C-123. Doing this in a freaking C-123. . . . well, let\u2019s just say that IMO Sergeant Lundie was absolutely on target with his compliment.<\/p>\n Again, Doug tells the story on his website better than I can. It\u2019s definitely worthwhile to take the time and read his article.<\/p>\n This happened on May 12, 1968 – Mother\u2019s Day. I guess you could call it a Mother\u2019s Day present from Lt Col Jackson to the mothers of those he rescued. And As of this writing, this American hero is still alive. Kudos, Colonel Jackson. Kudos.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ap Bac<\/del> Kham Duc. During the evacuation, three Airmen were inadvertently left behind. As the base area was literally being overrun by hostile forces, multiple attempts were made to rescue these three individuals. All but the last of these efforts were unsuccessful, resulting in numerous US casualties.<\/p>\nAp Bac<\/del> Kham Duc, combat landed his C-123 under fire, and rescued the three who\u2019d been left behind.<\/a><\/p>\nAp Bac<\/del> Kham Duc during the rescue.<\/p>\ntomorrow<\/del> this Sunday is Mother\u2019s Day 2012 \u2013 44 years later.<\/p>\n