Bud Day

Col. George E. Day United States Air Force
Col. George E. Day United States Air Force
	Col. Day in dress uniform.
Nickname(s)	Bud
Allegiance	United States of America
Service / branch	United States Air Force ; United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1942-1977
Rank	Rank Insignia Colonel
Battles / wars	World War II; Korean War; Vietnam War
Awards	Medal of Honor; Air Force Cross ; Distinguished Service Medal ; Silver Star ; Legion of Merit; Distinguished Flying Cross ; Bronze Star (4); Purple Heart ; Air Medal (10)
Other work	Author, Return with Honor; Partner, Day and Meade Law Firm

George Everett "Bud" Day (born February 24, 1925) is a former U.S. Air Force pilot during the Vietnam War. He is often cited as being the most decorated U.S. service member since General Douglas MacArthur, having received some seventy decorations, a majority for actions in combat. Day is a recipient of the Medal of Honor.

Biography

Day enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1942 and served thirty months in the South Pacific during World War II. After the war, Day attended Morningside College and the University of South Dakota Law School. He graduated and passed the bar exam in 1949. The following year he was commissioned in the Iowa National Guard. In 1951 he was called to active duty to enter pilot training. He then served two tours as a fighter-bomber pilot during the Korean War flying the Republic F-84 Thunderjet.

He began service in the Vietnam War when he was assigned to the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing at Tuy Hoa Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, in April 1967. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Phu Cat Air Base where he organized and became the commander of the 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron, the first "Misty Super FAC" unit flying the North American F-100 Super Sabre.

On 26 August, 1967, he was shot down over North Vietnam and immediately captured by the North Vietnamese following his ejection. Despite serious injury, he managed to escape across the Demilitarized Zone back into South Vietnam, becoming the only U.S. prisoner to escape from North Vietnam. Within two miles of freedom and after two weeks of evading, he was re-captured by the Viet Cong. Six years later, on 14 March 1973 he was released. Within three days Day was reunited with his wife and four children at March AFB in California. In December 1967 Day shared a cell with John McCain and helped nurse him back to life. [1]

After a short recuperative period, Day was returned to active flying status. On 4 March 1976, President Gerald Ford awarded Day the Medal of Honor for his personal bravery while a captive in North Vietnam.

Day retired from active duty in 1977 having attained the rank of colonel. Following his retirement, Day wrote an autobiography, Return with Honor, detailing his time as a captive in Vietnam. Day later wrote Duty, Honor, Country, which includes everything from his first book and his time after he retired. His book is available at www.colbudday.com

On 14 March 1997, the new Survival School Building at Fairchild AFB was named in his honor.

In 2002, Sioux City Airport was renamed Sioux Gateway Airport/Col. Bud Day Field in his honor.

During the 2004 U.S. presidential election, Day appeared in a Swift Boat Veterans for Truth advertisement, saying (referring to John Kerry): "How can you expect our sons and daughters to follow you when you condemned their fathers and grandfathers?" Following that election, Day signed on as President of the newly formed Vietnam Veterans Legacy Foundation.

As of July, 2007 he has a law firm, Day and Meade, in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

January 04, 2008 Retired Col. Bud Day was awarded Freedom Communications, Inc. Spirit of Freedom Award on behalf of the Northwest Florida Daily News and nine other Newspapers owned by the Company in the Florida Panhandle. Tom Connor, Publisher of the Fort Walton Beach based Northwest Florida Daily News presented Col. Day with a commemorative plaque, a donation of $1,000.00 will be made on Col. Day's behalf by Florida's Freedom Newspapers to a Charity benefiting Vietnam War Veterans. ^[1]

Medal of Honor 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 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.[2]