“Robbie” Risner passes
Mary sends us word that James R. “Robbie” Risner has passed. Risner was an ace fighter pilot during the Korean War with 86 8 kills. His time in the Vietnam War was cut short when the second time he was shot down, Risner was captured and held by the Vietnamese for seven years. Robbie earned two Air Force Crosses during his career and retired as a brigadier general. In the picture above, he was photographed with the nine foot statue of himself at the Air Force Academy.
Category: Blue Skies
Jonn: Brigadier General Risner had 8 kills in Korea, not 86. He was good, but not that good
Yeah, I don’t know why I did that – I guess I was thinking of his aircraft, an F-86. More coffee.
Rest in peace, General. You’ve certainly earned it.
From Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Robinson_Risner
Risner spent more than three years in solitary confinement. Even so, as the officer of rank with the responsibility of maintaining order, from 1965 to 1973 he helped lead American resistance in the North Vietnamese prison complex through the use of improvised messaging techniques (“tap code”), endearing himself to fellow prisoners with his faith and optimism. It was largely thanks to the leadership of Risner and his Navy counterpart, Commander (later Vice Admiral) James Stockdale, that the POWs organized themselves to present maximum resistance. While held prisoner in Hoa Loa, Risner served first as Senior Ranking Officer and later as Vice Commander of the provisional 4th Allied Prisoner of War Wing. He was a POW for seven years, four months, and 27 days.
His story of being imprisoned drew wide acclaim after that war’s end. His autobiography, The Passing of the Night: My Seven Years as a Prisoner of the North Vietnamese, describes seven years of torture and mistreatment by the North Vietnamese. In his book, Risner attributes faith in God and prayer as being instrumental to his surviving the Hanoi prison experience. In his words:
“To make it, I prayed by the hour. It was automatic, almost subconscious. I did not ask God to take me out of it. I prayed he would give me strength to endure it. When it would get so bad that I did not think I could stand it, I would ask God to ease it and somehow I would make it. He kept me.”
Fellows,
As a Korean Veteran myself, I know alot more about General Risner then some of the KWVA officers that are in control of the KWVA at the present time. Lets just see how long it takes them to come alive and honor General Risner. Another thank you to TAH, you guys are still the best.
Sam (Where The Tall Corn Grows)
We’ve lost another great and valiant hero in this man. We are uplifted by his presence and diminished in his passing. I pray that we may be worthy of the sacrifices he and his brothers in arms made. Godspeed and fair winds General. BRAVO ZULU