Bud Day

George Everette “Bud” Day was born in Sioux City, Iowa, on 24 February 1925. In 1942, while still a teenager, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served in the South Pacific during the Second World War. Returning home, he joined the Army Reserve, studied law at the University of South Dakota and was admitted to the bar in 1949. The following year, he received a commission in the Iowa Air National Guard. Called to active duty in 1951, he trained as a pilot and flew two tours in the Far East in F-84 Thunderjets during the Korean War. His path from enlisted Marine to lawyer and fighter pilot took him through three wars. (news.va.gov, nationalmuseum.af.mil, hurlburt.af.mil)

By 1967, Day was flying F-100 Super Sabres in Vietnam. He organized and became the first commander of the Misty forward air controllers at Phu Cat Air Base. Their missions took them into heavily defended areas to locate enemy forces and direct air strikes. On 26 August 1967, ground fire struck Day’s aircraft over North Vietnam. He ejected, breaking his right arm in three places and badly injuring his left knee. Enemy forces captured him soon afterward. (af.mil, nationalmuseum.af.mil, cmohs.org)

Day escaped from his captors and began a desperate journey south. Injured, hungry and evading patrols, he survived on berries and uncooked frogs. He crossed the Ben Hai River using a bamboo log as a float and entered the demilitarized zone. He was close to safety, but delirium left him disoriented. After several attempts to signal American aircraft, he was ambushed and recaptured, suffering gunshot wounds to his hand and thigh. (cmohs.org)

His captors returned him to prison and later moved him to Hanoi. Though weakened by his wounds and repeated torture, Day resisted interrogation and gave false information rather than help the enemy. He remained a prisoner for 67 months, until his release on 14 March 1973. Three days later, he was reunited with his wife, Doris, and their children. His conduct during the escape attempt and captivity brought him the Medal of Honor and the Air Force Cross. President Gerald Ford presented him with the Medal of Honor on 4 March 1976. (cmohs.org, nationalmuseum.af.mil, afsoc.af.mil)

After his release, Day returned to Air Force duty. His final assignment was vice commander of the 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. He retired as a colonel in 1977 and resumed practicing law. He also became an advocate for military retirees’ medical benefits, taking their case to court and speaking publicly about the promises made to those who served. Day died on 27 July 2013. In 2018, the Air Force posthumously advanced him to brigadier general. (afsoc.af.mil, eglin.af.mil, news.va.gov, af.mil)