Air Force Cross
Valor Friday
Of the POWs held by the North Vietnamese during the Vietnam War, there are many recognizable names among the 591 men who survived prolonged captivity to return home. Virtually all of them returned home to promotions (sometimes multiple grades) and received medals (most of them several). Among the survivors, Jeremiah Denton and John McCain became […]
Valor Friday
I wrote about Philip Conran a while back. He’s a personal hero of mine, and the efforts to get his Air Force Cross upgraded to a Medal of Honor continues. News broke a month or so ago that legislation was (again) introduced in Congress to that effect. Closer to home, Conran’s home county of Santa […]
Valor Friday
We talked about Philip Conran briefly several years back. At the time, I wrote a piece on him for Valor Friday, but it appears that it was never shared with the blog. Here it is, five years later. A congressman from California, Rep. Salud Carbajal (D), has introduced legislation authorizing the president to upgrade Air […]
Valor Friday
For a time during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, many awards for combat valor were being awarded in secret. At one point it was nearly 20% of the service crosses and Silver Stars. This is done to protect the recipient and their family, most often while they’re deployed (or subject to likely subsequent and […]
Valor Friday
I’ve talked about several recipients of American military awards for valor who were members of allied nations (or even civilians). This includes the Medal of Honor received by Mary Edwards Walker, the Distinguished Service Cross to Virginia Hall, and most recently, my article on the DSC awarded to John Paul Vann. Today’s subject is the […]
Valor Friday
It is said that war brings out the worst in men, but also brings out the best. Many of the men and women I’ve highlighted here over the years are of the latter. Usually in response to the former. Today’s is the story of two men, and how their paths crossed over Europe during World […]
Valor Friday
After the war, Olds remained in the service. He initially was posted at West Point as assistant football coach. In February 1946 though he was sent to March Field to join a P-80 Shooting Star fighter jet squadron. While there, he teamed with Lieutenant Colonel “Pappy” Herbst (a WWII ace of the China-India-Burma Theater) to […]
General Charles Boyd passes, aged 83
Boomer sends word on the passing of an Air Force legend. General Charles Boyd, highly decorated for his time in Vietnam, has died at age 83. Commissioning in 1959, he went on to beccome a fighter pilot first flying F-100 Super Sabres and then F-105 Thunderchiefs. If would be in the latter airframe that he […]
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