Legendary aviator's visit offers chance to read between the lines

  • Published
  • By Ashley M. Wright
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Medal of Honor recipient, Col. (Ret.) Bud Day, brought the core principles of leadership to life for 40 members of Eglin's Junior Force Council here recently.

The former prisoner of war elaborated on his more than thirty years of military service to the country, which is chronicled in the book, "American Patriot: The life and wars of Colonel Bud Day" by Robert Coram. Always by his side, his wife Doris joined Colonel Day as they both elaborated on the biography featured in the council's 2009 book forum.

During his speech to civil servants, enlisted personnel and officers, the most decorated U.S. military member since General Douglas MacArthur brought the audience to tears and laughter.

Colonel Day said he finally achieved his lifetime goal of being a command fighter pilot flying during combat. Those under his command became known as the Mistys, after the colonel's favorite song. The group would achieve the status of aviation legends for their courage and true grit while flying F-100Fs above the jungles of North Vietnam dodging Anti-Aircraft Artillery, Surface-to-Air Missiles or whatever else the enemy could fire.

"There was no question we were going to lose a lot of airplanes, including mine being the first," Colonel Day said.

His subsequent capture by the North Vietnamese after ejecting from his plane started 67 months of a living nightmare for the pilot/lawyer.

"There was nothing good, but the resistance and the leadership [among the prisoners,]" Colonel Day said.

The colonel added that leadership was not the most desirable job, as the simple act of communicating through a tap code meant punishment.

"If you got caught, you got hurt," Colonel Day explained matter-of-factly.

Napoleon Bonaparte is reported to have said, "a leader is a dealer in hope." The senior officers among the prisoners faced seemingly insurmountable odds to inspire hope.
However, one of Colonel Day's attempts still inspires hope in the next millennium.

At one point, some Americans had faced upwards of 52 months in solitary confinement when they found themselves moved to cells with nearly 40 other prisoners, Colonel Day said. One of their first acts together was to hold a church service, which the guards promptly attempted to breakup with rifles.

"I thought this was a great time to say how great America was," Colonel Day declared.

Colonel Day cleared his throat, jumped atop the concrete bed and started singing the "Star Spangled Banner." Others joined the choir and sang rounds of "God Bless America," and "The Eyes of Texas are Upon You," among others.

"From that point on, we had our church service," the colonel said.

The legacy and courage of Colonel Day is something leaders on Eglin wanted to pass to the next generation of Americans working on here.

"It is really a privilege to have the Days speaking to Team Eglin Warriors," said Col. Bruce McClintock, 96th Air Base Wing commander. "The Junior Force Council, through the work of their president Angela Diggs and others, provided a rare opportunity for the future of the Air Force."

"Some in present generations are unaware of the past and sacrifice of those before them," Colonel McClintock said. "In order to reach today's service members and reinforce warrior ethos, mentoring can be removed from normal context and broadened through unique opportunities like this designed to nourish future generations."

The biography about Colonel Day, also featured on the Air Force Chief of Staff 2009 reading list, brought a close to the 2009 book forum for the council. Previous readings included "Beating Goliath: Why Insurgencies Win" by Jeffrey Record, which focused council member's discussion to current conflicts involving the U.S. military, among others.

Hearing literature come alive through a hero's voice brought a new level of emotion to many members of the audience for this book forum discussion.

"I'm just awestruck by a living legend," said Staff Sgt. Pam Ives, 919th Special Operation Wing historian, holding back tears. "What he endured in the POW camps is unimaginable. I admire his patriotism and love of his family. I don't know if they make men like that anymore. He is a true patriot."

The Eglin Junior Force Council's overall mission is to provide junior level Airmen and civilians with professional and career development. The council achieves their mission through shadow programs, quarterly tours of base facilities, mock job interviews, senior leadership perspectives and other seminars. For more information, contact Angela Diggs at  883-3711 or Jonathan Reeves at 882-9978.