MOH recipient Col. "Bud" Day passes away

  • Published
  • By Samuel King Jr.
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. --  Local Air Force hero and Medal of Honor recipient, Col. "Bud" Day, passed away July 27 at the age of 88 at his home here.

Day's final assignment was the vice commander of the 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., in 1977.

Day earned more than 70 medals for his service as an enlisted Marine in World War II and an Air Force pilot in Korea and Vietnam. Day was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during his five years as a POW in the Vietnam War, refusing to divulge sensitive information to his captors and rallying his fellow captives.

Services for Day will be held Aug. 1 at the Emerald Coast Conference Center beginning at 9 a.m.  The burial will be at Barrancas National Cemetery at Pensacola Naval Air Station at 3 p.m.  For more information and a biography about this American hero, click here.