The Distinguished Flying Cross News

The Distinguished Flying Cross
News
Info & Registration Form in this issue P. 10 - 12
T
he DFCS 2012 Convention
and our newly published
book, “On Heroic Wings: Stories
of the Distinguished Flying
Cross” are the main focus of this
DFCS News Magazine.
It is hard to believe the 2012
DFCS Convention is almost here.
This year’s location is Seattle, WA,
and the dates are August 19th
through August 23rd. This is our
first reunion in the Northwest, and
the Convention Committee has planned many exciting and historical events. The clock is ticking, so don’t miss out on what promises
to be a premier event. The Registration Form and list of events are
in this News Magazine, plus they are also available online at our
website (www.dfcsociety.org). The registration deadline is July
19, 2012, so get those Registration Forms in NOW! For first-time
visitors to the Northwest area, this is the perfect time of year to
admire the beauty of Seattle and surrounding region. There are
many events and functions scheduled for this year’s Convention,
including a Silent Auction, fantastic tours, registration gifts, fine
meals and a closing banquet that will honor our WWII Veterans
with a Special Tribute. I am looking forward to attending and hope
to see many of you there.
I am very proud of the book that our Society published this year.
“On Heroic Wings: Stories of the Distinguished Flying Cross” involved a lot of work by many people, and the final product is beautiful and very compelling. This is not just our opinion! We have received much positive feedback from those who have seen and read
the book. The main reason for this project is to continue our efforts
in educating the general public about the Distinguished Flying
Cross medal and the ways in which its recipients impacted American history.
only to the heroes of our country. People need to know what veterans have achieved so that we may all live in freedom.
Present a copy of the book to other organizations you belong to or
consider buying copies for the local ROTC or JROTC, military
groups, local libraries, school/college/university libraries and local
gift shops. If you can’t afford to personally purchase copies for these venues, take your personal copy and show it off. The book sells
itself. When someone is interested in buying a copy, simply contact
me, and I will be happy to help them or refer them to our website.
If you are an active or retired Airline Pilot, get the word out there to
your fellow pilots. Bruce Huffman, a DFC Society Director, sold 42
books to a company that will give them out as gifts for their customers. I visited my local library with a copy to show, and they purchased one.
I believe it is imperative that we keep our legacy alive for future
generations. We receive inquires daily from people who have lost a
loved veteran and their stories are always the same. They didn’t
know the deceased person had been awarded this medal; they had
never heard any story about the war or occasion that warranted
this award. They ask for information regarding what the DFC is and
why their loved one was awarded it. We can’t afford to let our legacy go unnoticed – we fought too hard for it. This book is our tool to
assure this doesn’t happen.
For those who haven’t bought or seen the book, we have included
several representative stories from it in this issue of the DFCS News
Magazine.
Chuck Sweeney,
President & CEO, DFCS
For the members and friends who purchased this book, we thank
you profusely for your support. For those who haven’t purchased
it, we urge you to do so. You can be proud of showing it to your
family and friends. This is an opportunity to get the story of the
Distinguished Flying Cross out to the public, and we need your help
to do it.
It is an honor to have had the Foreword and Introduction written
by famous people (President George H.W. Bush and Jim Lovell) who
are also members of the DFC Society. Our readers are impressed
by the book’s high quality and low price. The front and back covers
are striking, but it is the stories inside that are simply incredible.
Sadly, some members indicated they are not interested in buying
the book, if their personal story isn’t included. With over 6,000
members in our Society, it is obvious only so many stories could be
told; however, the intent was not to tell each recipient’s story. The
purpose of this endeavor was to publish a few examples of action
that serve to define the DFC awardees who, in turn, are representative of all the recipients of the DFC. This book was published in our
effort to preserve the legacy of all DFC recipients.
As mentioned earlier, your help is needed in fulfilling our goal of
educating the public about the history of the DFC. Take a moment
to think about what the results might be, if each DFC Society member had a copy of this book on their coffee table. Show it to your
family and friends with pride – let them know you have a DFC
award, too, even if your personal story isn’t included. I bought ten
copies for my children and grandchildren! Put a copy of your citation inside your book! This is a most prestigious award presented
Summer 2012 Issue
Page 2
USMC
W
e are still putting the final touches on the convention, but I believe it will be one to remember. The
Pacific NW is spectacular in August, and
the tours and events that have been
scheduled are excellent. These conventions are always a lot of fun, so if you
have not already made your reservations, do so. I assure you that you will
enjoy yourself and meet some outstanding people in the process.
Many of you have purchased the book,
“On Heroic Wings” for which the DFCS is thankful; however, there
are many more of you who have not. This is a special book that goes
into the history of the DFC and presents first person stories from
recipients in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and other
locations. If you have not taken time to review the book materials
that are available, please take a few minutes to do so. You will find
them on our website, in this magazine, and on Amazon.
Here is what a few have said about the book:
“I want to thank you for the fine work your team did in pulling the
book “On Heroic Wings” together…this is one that should be required reading for all of us who are the children of these brave men
and women. It will be required reading for my kids, as well.”
Randy S
“…The book is that good and that much a piece of military history.
Just the fact that the forward and introduction are written by such
renowned figures, who are DFC recipients, is worth the purchase
price; but the chapter entries are all fascinating and awe inspiring
for the courage and heroism shown by the recipients. The book
itself is beautifully printed and bound. Even the jacket is impressive.”
Lisa I
“…This book on the DFC … it is rich in personal testimonies and
archival material, as the authors had access to oral interviews and
other historical assets held by the group. The book is a gem regarding this highly decorated award. Moreover, it is well produced, with
many never-before-published photographs of flight crew who were
recipients of the award.”
Peter M
I answer all the DFCS phone calls. I have literally had hundreds of
calls from family members of DFC recipients who have taken their
final flight. A common statement is “He never mentioned that he
had a DFC. What is the DFC? What does it take to be awarded the
DFC?”
It is ok to be humble and laid back about your combat experiences
and awards. On the other hand, every one of us who is a proud recipient of the DFC, should have this book to pass on our legacy to
future generations. Buy a copy for your children or donate it to
your local museum, school, library and ROTC unit.
, Chairman DFC Society
F
By Barry Lanman
rom the “Greatest Generation” flying propeller-driven fighter
planes during World War II, to the male and female pilots
maneuvering sophisticated jet aircraft over the skies of Iraq and
Afghanistan, military aviators have captured a special place in the
hearts and minds of Americans. While the vast majority of these
aviators has demonstrated extraordinary honor, only the best and
most courageous are awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross.
The Distinguished Flying Cross was
created by an Act of Congress in
1926. Under the initial Act, along
with military aviators and crew, a
select group of civilians received
the Distinguished Flying Cross for
aerial achievement. Shortly thereafter, Congress modified the medal
criteria to focus specifically on actions involving heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. DFCs have
been awarded prior to and during
World War II, Korea, Vietnam and
on to the present. The Distinguished Flying Cross has also been
awarded to military aviators and/or their crew for civilian rescues
during emergencies and natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina.
The Foreword for On Heroic Wings was written by President Bush
(41) and the introduction was written by aviator and astronaut
Jim Lovell; both are recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Thirty-two major accounts and over 180 vignettes are included in
the book along with 311 photographs.
While the authors frame each narrative using historical background and context, the stories are predominately told in the firstperson words of the hero. Thus, the humanity of their courageous
acts is accurately heard and the reader is compelled to interact
with the thought processes of the DFC recipient. A comprehensive
effort was also made to include the five military services, a wide
range of aircraft, and various aspects of diversity.
In concert with the publication, a documentary film is being developed. Lanman and Wendling are working with the DFCS and production companies to develop a one-hour story for television. A
fourteen-minute pilot has already been produced with actor Gary
Sinise hosting the presentation. The documentary will contain
oral history interviews, scene re-creations and state-of-the-art
digital animation in order to dramatically tell the stories of the
Distinguished Flying Cross. Educational components in digital
format are also planned for the book and documentary. The curricula will focus on issues of ethics, values, and the ways in which
one person can make an impact on the course of history.
T
hroughout this issue of the DFC News we have placed excerpts from your book ‘On Heroic Wings’. Hopefully you’ll
enjoy the actual stories with photos and see the quality in the
production. The vignettes will show you the diversity and the
courage of our fellow recipients.
We hope this gives you a little perspective of what the book entails and motivates you to purchase copies and show the book to
family and friends. This will help keep the DFC legacy alive for
future generations.
Thank you for your support, the Board of Directors
Page 3
The Distinguished Flying Cross News
National Directors
and
Chapter Contact
1. Inland Empire Chapter
Riverside, CA
James Ford, President
909-783-1043
[email protected]
2. Tucson AZ Chapter
Marana, AZ
Paul Faust, President
520-780-2095
[email protected]
12. The Villages Chapter
The Villages, FL
Bill Brown, President
352-259-8340
[email protected]
13. San Diego Lindbergh Chapter
Poway, CA
Dannie King, President
858-668-6477
[email protected]
3. Ira C. Eaker Chapter
Jacksonville, AR
Gordon Hartley, President
501-835-1310
[email protected]
www.eakerdfc.org
4. Kentuckiana Chapter
Louisville, KY
Rodger McAlister, President
502-245-7282
[email protected]
5. Lewis & Clark Chapter
Milwaukie, OR
Don Wolcott, V. President
503-786-3459
[email protected]
14. Southeast Florida Chapter
Hollywood, FL
OPEN
15. Desert Fliers Command Chapter
Palm Springs, CA
OPEN
16. Tampa Bay Area Chapter
New Port Richey, FL
Robert L. Hutchinson, President
727-379-9026
[email protected]
17. Mid-America Chapter
Wichita, KS
OPEN
6. Pensacola Chapter
Pensacola, FL
Ron Hall, President
(850)458-2504
[email protected]
18. Wiregrass Chapter
Ozark, AL
Mark Steele, President
334-333-1946
[email protected]
7. Wilbur Wright Nation’s Capital
Region Chapter
Roy Hodges, President
301-860-0043
[email protected]
19. Great Plains Chapter
Papillion, NE
Jim Maloney, President
402-593-0683
[email protected]
8. Fort Walton Beach
Pitsenbarger Chapter
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Aaron Farrior, President
850-240-7417
[email protected]
20. Las Vegas Wings Chapter
Las Vegas, NV
Jack Mates, V. President
[email protected]
9. North Texas Chapter
Dallas, TX
Rick J.W. Graham, President
972-788-5300
[email protected]
10. Northwest Chapter
Puyallup, WA
Steve Vermillion , President
253-906-2938
[email protected]
11. Orange County CA Chapter
San Clemente, CA
Art W. Overman, President
949-361-8445
[email protected]
Summer 2012 Issue
Page 4
21. Southwestern Ohio Chapter
Troy, OH
Jack Mecham, President
937-323-2704
[email protected]
www.dfcsocietyoh.com
The DFC News Magazine is the official
publication of The DFC Society, a
501- C (19) non-profit corp., published three times a year . Send articles to Editor: DFCS, PO Box 530250,
San Diego, CA 92153 r,
National Headquarters:
P.O. Box 530250
San Diego, CA 92153
Toll Free Telephone Number:
1-866-DFC-MEDAL (332-6332)
www.dfcsociety.org
email: [email protected]
Membership Services
Beverley O’Neil
Accountant - David Bentler
Board of Directors
 Chairman of the Board
William Bradfield
 President & CEO
Chuck Sweeney
 Vice President
John Appel
 Treasurer
Tony Ventura
 Secretary
Bob Krone
 Legal Counsel
Tom Equels
 Directors
Bruce Huffman
Greg MacNeil
Jim Champlin
Joe Geary
Larry Liss
Al Major
Terry Sullivan
 Chairman Emeritus
Jack Mates
Bob Frantz
 President Emeritus
Michael O’Neil
 Director Emeritus
Reed Phillips
Foreword by George H. W. Bush,
Forty-first President of the United States
Member of The Distinguished Flying Cross Society
Page 5
The Distinguished Flying Cross News
*book excerpt
*book excerpt
T
he President of
the United States
takes great pleasure
in presenting the Distinguished Flying
Cross to First Lieutenant Leonard D. Kraus for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in the North
African and Mediterranean theatres of operations. Consistently,
throughout many combat missions
against highly important and strategic enemy installations, the personnel listed below have demonstrated the highest order of professional skill, heroism, leadership
and devotion to duty. Although
regularly and frequently opposed
by large numbers of enemy fighters, together with intense, accu-
rate, and heavy anti-aircraft fire
during which their aircraft were,
at times, seriously damaged, these
men have fought through to their
targets and aided in the destruction of these vital objectives. Despite severe and adverse weather
conditions, rugged terrain and
many other major obstacles and
hazards, these men have gallantly
engaged, fought and defeated the
enemy without regard for their
own personal safety and against
great odds. Their conspicuous and
extraordinary achievements
throughout these many missions
against the enemy have been of
inestimable value to successful
combat operations and have reflected great credit upon themselves and the Armed Forces of the
United States of America.
Leonard flew 250 combat hours
in B-24’s out of Italy with 5 missions to Ploesti and 5 to Vienna.
Leonard is a Founding Director of
The Distinguished Flying Cross
Society
Summer 2012 Issue
Page 6
I
need help with the “DFCS News” publication. If you
have experience in writing articles, please e-mail me
with ideas and suggestions. Please submit all articles via
email in MSWord or similar format. If you cannot use a
computer or word-processing program ...ask a family
member to help you.
Please volunteer, even if you do not have experience but
would like to see your DFC story in print, send me your
500 - 1500 word article that you feel our members
would enjoy.
Michael O’Neil, Editor
[email protected]
T
he Southwest Florida chapter of
the DFC was invited to be celebrated guests at an Everblades Hockey
game, complete with private VIP box
suite with drinks and food, a visit from
the Everblades cheerleaders, and a
standing ovation from the audience
when they were announced and their
pictures put on the stadium screen.
I
n May, the Inland Empire Chapter participated at the March ARB Armed Forces Day Air
Show, which featured the Air Force Thunderbirds flight demonstration team. Pictured are
volunteers Dave Clement, Jennifer and Mel McMullen and Ken Marks. Your President, Chuck
Sweeney, was also there only this time he was behind the camera!
Left to right with the cheerleaders are John Buick, Norm Stanley
and Jim Conner
Volunteers from the Inland Empire Chapter worked the booth for both days of the
show in an attempt to recruit new members, both National and Chapter. Sales of the DFC
book “On Heroic Wings” were also promoted along with sales of DFC National Memorial tiles.
And most important, the booth served to expose the general public to your Distinguished
Flying Cross Society.
Page 7
The Distinguished Flying Cross News
F
unny machines, helicopters. Helicopters don’t look like
they should fly. And yet, helicopters are often seen in a
flying state. And with a bulbous cabin suspended from a spinning rotor blade, helicopters can carry large loads and land in
small spaces. Once the Army figured it out, thousands were
built for Vietnam. We called them Hueys.
In 1968 I
was the
crewchief
of a Huey
belonging
to the
TopTigers
of the 68th
Assault
Helicopter
Company.
Based at
Bien Hoa
northeast
of Saigon,
our mission was to ferry troops into battle. We would load ten
helicopters (called slicks) with sixty infantrymen, fly out into the
badlands and deposit the troops into a clearing (the landing zone
or LZ) hoping to catch the bad guys by surprise. But the enemy
would often hear us coming, congregate in the trees alongside the
LZ and shoot the slicks as they landed. So to protect the slicks, the
TopTigers constructed a very special Huey called “Smokey.”
The plan was for Smokey to precede the slicks into the LZ and fly
low and slow in front of the treeline where the enemy was
thought to be. Next, an apparatus sprayed oil into Smokey’s turbine exhaust and the result was a three-story high curtain of
heavy, greasy smoke directly in front of the enemy positions. The
smoke curtain was intended to protect the slicks but everyone
knew that the enemy would likely shoot at Smokey instead. For
that reason, the smoke mission was assigned to our oldest helicopter and its nineteen year old rookie crewchief. Me.
The smoke mission proved as dangerous as expected. Within
weeks, I lost two Hueys and a pilot to enemy action and a crash.
The root cause was that the smoke screen was only effective if
Smokey flew no faster than fifty-five knots and as close to the
enemy gunners as possible. Fifty feet. Or less. At this range,
Smokey’s only chance for survival was two M60 machine guns
mounted on each side of the cabin. One for me on the left, and one
for the gunner on the right. Depending on which side the enemy
was on, one of us would “suppress” the treeline throughout the
smoke run. Capable of 450 rounds per minute, the M60s were our
lifeline. And on May 16 1968, the line snapped.
The pilot that day was 28-year old West Point graduate and company XO, Major Richard Daum. The co-pilot was an LTC from Battalion headquarters who needed air time to collect his flight pay.
Behind the pilots, we’d bolstered firepower by adding a third
crewmember manning a Browning 50 Cal. Thus configured,
Smokey smoked a treeline near Saigon as the TopTigers inserted
sixty infantrymen who were immediately greeted by a battalion of
North Vietnamese Regulars. A fierce firefight ensued and the
TopTigers returned with reinforcements. Smokey smoked the LZ
a second time and I suppressed the treeline with my M60. But
unbeknownst to me, troops from the first insertion were already
amongst the trees. With hostile fire from the front and friendly
fire from the rear, the ground commander sternly ordered that
future smoke runs be made with Smokey’s M60s locked down.
This was bad news. With a hot LZ and our defenses disabled, our
smoke runs would be riskier than ever.
Summer 2012 Issue
Page 8
By Frans VandenBroek
We circled the LZ until the TopTigers returned with more troops.
As we headed for the treeline for the third time, I made myself
small behind my M60 and prepared for a shoot-out with our protection effectively disarmed. A lone enemy gunner opened fire and
I had him in my sights. But I held off. Although the lives of
Smokey’s crew was in my hands, shooting a friendly, even unintentionally would haunt me forever. Shaken but unharmed we retreated to Bien Hoa to refuel. Our orders were to return to the LZ
ASAP.
Upon dismounting at Bien Hoa the Battalion guest pilot discovered
a bullet hole in the cabin just behind his head. He suddenly remembered a prior commitment and left. His replacement was
Warrant Officer Charles VanAllen, twenty, a new pilot who had yet
to fly his first mission.
Once back in the air, Major Daum briefed Mr. VanAllen and the
young WO was terrified. In the cabin, the two gunners and I silently echoed the sentiment. Below us, the battle was raging and with
the TopTiger flight on final approach into the LZ, the rookie pilot
pleaded for guidance. Major Daum quietly told Mr. VanAllen to put
his fate in the hands of a higher power and let whatever happens,
happen. Then, without hesitation, he dove for the treeline where
the enemy was waiting. Predictable path. Predictable speed. No
defenses offered. We were sitting ducks.
The trees were quiet at first. And like a boy with a wooden rifle, I
pointed my M60 and whispered: “Bang, bang, bang”. Then, suddenly, flickering lights in the trees! And in perfect harmony with
the flickering came waves of staccato thunderclaps, from a tree, a
bush, a rock.
The sound
was as suffocating as the
smoke we
were leaving
behind.
Trapped
between
panic and
adrenaline, I
tracked the
flickering
lights with
my M60 and
screamed: “BANG! BANG! BANG!” A pound and a half on the trigger could make it sing. But I held my fire and Major Daum grimly
kept Smokey on course. Smokey crews NEVER quit. And neither
did the thunderclaps. An enemy round bored into Mr. VanAllen’s
chest and in agony, he began kicking the tail rotor pedals and nearly caused Major Daum to lose control.
I unbuckled my belt, scrambled towards the stricken pilot and
grabbed his thighs to hold him still. But the shifting of my body
weight upset Smokey’s fragile CG. The nose dropped and the skids
carved parallel furrows in Vietnamese soil. Somehow, Major Daum
kept the bucking Huey on track until the treeline was finally
drowning in smoke. Only then did he pull pitch, and as Smokey’s
rotor blades found traction in the air we moved out of there fast.
But by then, Mr. VanAllen was not moving at all.
We dropped Mr. VanAllen’s body off in Saigon and soon landed at
Bien Hoa, grateful the nightmare was over. But it wasn’t. Orders
came to return to the LZ immediately. The two distraught gunners
turned on their heels and walked away. Major Daum turned to me
and quietly asked: “How about you?”
(Continued on page 9)
Cont’d Smokey and the DFC
My mind was spinning; I wasn’t sure what to do. The Major was
clearly going to finish the mission, with or without a crew. Either
way, he was doomed. And he would surely have understood if I
didn’t volunteer for the same fate. I looked into his eyes and saw
determination and compassion. But not fear. I had no choice: “I’ll go
with you.”
As I checked Smokey for damage, another pilot and a crewchief
heard of our predicament and courageously volunteered to fill
Smokey’s empty seats. We smoked the treeline three more times
that day but thankfully, the LZ had gone cold.
In the months that followed, Major Daum was promoted to CO and I
was transferred to the gunship platoon. By November 1968 my year
in Vietnam was over but I volunteered for six months more. Christmas leave was part of the deal. But just before I was due to fly
home, Major Daum called me into his office, handed me a small box
and instructed me to tell my parents that their boy had done well. It
was a Distinguished Flying Cross.
I returned to Bien Hoa in January 1969. On March 23 my gunship
crashed and I was medevaced out of Vietnam. I was discharged in
July, VA disability and the GI bill paid for college and eventually Vietnam became but a distant memory. But every once in a while I’ll
find a quiet place, lift the lid of a small box and examine a blue ribbon attached to a miniature brass propeller. And I’ll reflect on a day
forty-three years ago when a courageous pilot inspired me to make
the most difficult decision of my life. And the one I’m proudest of.
T
he President of the United States takes great
pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying
Cross to Specialist Five Frans VanderBroek for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by
voluntary action above and beyond the call of duty.
Specialist Five VanderBroek distinguished himself by
exceptionally valorous actions while serving as Crew Chief on a
UH-1D smoke ship southwest of Saigon. During an insertion of
friendly infantry, Specialist VanderBroek’s aircraft was called upon to lay a smoke screen four times between the enemy’s positions. On each pass, Specialist VanderBroek withheld his fire, as
directed. Heavy enemy fire tore through the aircraft and narrowly
missed the heads of both pilots. After a trip back to the staging
area to rearm and refuel, the smoke ship returned for a second
insertion and the Co-pilot was killed instantly. Specialist VanderBroek held the fatally wounded Co-pilot free from the controls
while the Aircraft Commander completed the smoke run. The
aircraft then flew to Bien Hoa to pick up a new Co-pilot. Specialist
VanderBroek willingly volunteered to return to battle with his
aircraft and continued to perform courageously throughout the
operation. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions
of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his
unit, and the United States Army.
A
s you know, our Society is growing and with our membership approaching 6,000 we need some additional help. We
currently have two Director slots open on the DFCS Board and
would like to fill them with members who are willing to help us
continue moving forward. Ideally we would like someone with
Public Relations experience and possibly fund raising experience
but really need two people willing to work with some great
members. If you would like to volunteer, please e-mail our Chairman, Bill Bradfield, [email protected]. Thank you for your
help!
*book excerpt
Page 9
The Distinguished Flying Cross News
It's almost August!
Time to get your registrations in for the 2012 convention/reunion of the DFC Society!
Registration deadline is July19!!
In addition to the optional events, note that the following are included in the
registration fee:
VIP Tour of the Boeing Wide Body Plant at Paine Field, Everett, Washington, to include
transportation to and from the Hotel,
Terry Sullivan, 2012 Reunion Chair
A VIP tour of Paul Allen's (Microsoft fame) private collection at the Flying Heritage
See you in Seattle, August 19 - 23
Collection on Paine Field (these are flying aircraft, not museum pieces!),
Monday night dinner poolside in Marriott Hotel Atrium,
Tuesday night seafood buffet dinner (with live/silent auction) with wine and dessert, and
Wednesday night commemorative dinner with all the trimmings (honoring our WW II DFC recipients) at
the Museum of Flight, Boeing Field. Guest speaker for the evening will be Jonna Doolittle Hoppes, granddaughter of General Jimmy Doolittle!
In attendance at the
dinner along with all of our World War II honorees will be LtCol Ed Saylor, USAF Retired, Copilot on the
#15 Doolittle Raider!
Please note that all World War II, Distinguished Flying Cross Society members receive $100 discount on
the registration fee!
Get your registrations in as soon as possible (helps with our planning efforts) by mailing them to the
Reunion BRAT, 16817 Mountain Side Drive East, Greenwater, WA 98022.
For more information call 360-663-2521
T
his is Todd Frommelt, current President of the A4 Skyhawk Association. I was invited by Chuck
Sweeney to make a short recruitment pitch for your distinguished magazine to alert you to our organization and its mission. Formed around a table at Tailhook ‘93 with some 130 names on a clipboard, the Association has grown now to close to 1000 members, mostly Navy and Marine pilots of the Skyhawk, but also
international folks (A-4’s still fly in 5 other countries), mechs, modelers and just regular aficionados. We are a
fraternal-social affiliation and are dedicated to the preservation of the legend, history, traditions, and “light
attack” community camaraderie with which many of you are well familiar.
In this the second centennial year of Naval and Marine Aviation, I thought I’d mention that that camaraderie
is probably the most important asset of the Association. It is a bond that I believe is unique amongst our
many brothers and sisters in aviation. Our primary objective is to facilitate the maintenance of those feelings
and -- with that in mind -- we are forever going to be encouraging community communications, promoting
and organizing reunions large and small, acting as a conduit for finding lost buddies (be they relatives, specific unit comrades or just
friends and old acquaintances), being a go-to source for researching any and all Skyhawk information and consistently reaching out to
those of the Skyhawker community who have fallen out of touch.
We try to do all this with our amazing web site, newly updated and expanded, at www.A4Skyhawk.org , our at least three times a year
Journal, three Newsletters, two open Board of Directors meetings and an Annual Membership meeting each year (the next meetings will be at Reno, Hook ‘12), some snail mail, and lots of email communications. We always man a booth at Tailhook and there are also about a dozen or so minireunions hosted by members across the country. Our modelers’ side of the house posts regular updates on the web site and Journal and we present an A-4 award at the annual International Plastic
Modeling Society convention. We also maintain close touch with a large variety of artists and artisans who depict the Skyhawk in their art with grace, accuracy and professional quality.
We’d love to have you in the membership ranks! We are all well aware that money and time can be tight...but also that our Skyhawk community is getting older all the time. Did you know that close to 100 Skyhawks are still flying around the world? A fine tribute to Ed Heinemann’s design. But the flyers are declining, I’m afraid…as both the airframes types and we daring young men of old start showing our age.
Get back in touch while we’re still going balls to the wall! Drop me an email at [email protected] or you can also join up
directly on the website. Trust me; you’ll be glad you did! Thanks for reading! Hun sends
Summer 2012 Issue
Page 10
Page 11
The Distinguished Flying Cross News
*book excerpt
Summer 2012 Issue
Page 12
Relatives will honor veteran who was driven away by horrible memories of World War II
By John Wilkens
The San Diego Union-Tribune
Thursday, March 1, 2012
George Balthazor in 1945
G
eorge Balthazor came
home from World War
II with a Distinguished Flying Cross and a head full of
bad memories. Sometimes at
night he woke up screaming.
His nightmares are why he
later dropped out of college,
and why he spent time in
mental hospitals, and why
he left Wisconsin for California and a drifter’s life of temporary jobs and flophouses.
Today they’d probably call it
post-traumatic stress disorder.
For 20 years, he was something of a ghost to his relatives, floating in and out of
their lives with occasional
letters and visits. As they
understood it, he was wandering between San Francisco and
San Diego. Then they lost track of him.
When he died on July 3, 2008, he was 86, drawing $441 a month
in Social Security and living in a nursing home in Carmel Mountain Ranch. In a way, he’d finally escaped his past: Nobody there
knew he’d flown 32 bombing missions over Germany, Belgium
and France.
County government officials tried to locate next of kin and failed.
They checked for a military record and came up empty there,
too, which they assumed meant he wasn’t eligible for a veteran’s
funeral. No taps, no three-volley salute, no folded flag from a
grateful nation.
What George Balthazor got instead was an unclaimed indigent’s
$500 farewell: cremation, the ashes scattered at sea.
And that would have been that, except he does have next of kin,
and they’ve never stopped wondering about or looking for him.
They still have his bomber jacket and his medals and the autobiography — “A Story of My Early Life” — he wrote in high school.
Friday afternoon they’re gathering in San Diego, at Fort
Rosecrans National Cemetery, to give him another farewell.
They’ve invited the public.
“We want people to know that he did exist, that he was in the
military, that he deserves to be acknowledged,” said Frank Balthazor, one of his nephews. “We want him to be remembered.”
A lasting impression
Born in Fond du Lac, Wis., George Balthazor grew up passionate
about airplanes. Nobody in his family was surprised when he
went to flight school in the fall of 1942.
He was stationed in England with the Army’s Eighth Air Force, in
the 487th Bombardment Group, an outfit known as “The Gentlemen From Hell.” Initially a co-pilot on a B-24, he was promoted
to first lieutenant and piloted a B-17 called “Flutterbye.”
From May to October of 1944, he flew missions in support of
five major Allied operations, including the D-Day invasion at
Normandy and raids on factories in Berlin. In addition to the
Distinguished Flying Cross, he received the Air Medal with three
oak leaf clusters.
He returned home in September 1945. His nephew Frank, who
was 4, remembers hearing the screams at night. But he also remembers a man who taught him how to tell time and seemed headed for
big things at the University of Wisconsin.
“We all thought the world of him,” Frank Balthazor said. “But then he
started going downhill, and it was like he just had to get away.”
The last time anyone in the family saw him was the early 1970s. The
final letter came several years after that. One by one, his living siblings
(three sisters and a brother) passed away, never knowing what had
happened to George.
Frank and another nephew, Steve Balthazor, who both live in Wisconsin, said they tried numerous times over the years to track him down.
Letters sent to “General Delivery” came back unopened. An email address found on the Internet was for the wrong George Balthazor, living
in London.
In August 2010, Steve was on the Web looking at Social Security death
records. He typed George’s name in a search box, and there it was:
passed away in San Diego in 2008.
One big question had been answered, but soon there were others. Why
hadn’t the family been contacted? Why wasn’t there a military funeral?
Where was the body?
‘Every avenue’
Lisa Contreras, a spokeswoman for the county Public Administrator,
which handled 388 indigent cases in 2008, said the agency “exhausted
every avenue we could” to locate relatives before authorizing the cremation. She said a half-dozen government and private Internet databases were searched.
The family noted that county officials had records showing George
was from Fond du Lac. There are still Balthazors in Fond du Lac. “I
understand the government’s busy, but couldn’t they have called
somebody and said, ‘Hey, do you know his guy?’ ” Frank Balthazor
asked.
As for George Balthazor’s veteran status, Contreras said it was county
practice in 2008 to send a fax to Fort Rosecrans, and if there was no
reply, to assume there was no military record. They got no reply on
George Balthazor.
Administrators do it differently now, she said. They talk to a live person at Fort Rosecrans. And they also contact a military personnel records office in St. Louis. “We’re always looking for ways to improve,”
Contreras said.
The Balthazor family hopes so.
“We’re not blaming anybody for anything, but it seems like he just fell
through the cracks,” Frank Balthazor said. “This isn’t just about
George. There are a lot of Georges out there.”
The family has spent months getting ready for Friday’s memorial.
There will be red roses, one for each of George’s sisters and brothers.
And yellow roses for his parents.
“We feel like we’re doing what they would have done, what they
would have wanted,” Steve said.
Relatives are coming in from Wisconsin, New Mexico and California
for the 2:30 p.m. service. Chuck Sweeney, a Coronado resident who
heads the Distinguished Flying Cross Society, will be there. A request
has been made to have a flyover from a plane out of March Air Reserve
Base in Riverside.
It would have been easier for the nephews to
hold the ceremony in
Wisconsin, but this isn’t
about them, they said.
It’s about George, and
George was in California.
Frank and Steve Balthazor both plan to speak.
Standing there, next to the Pacific Ocean where their uncle’s ashes
were scattered, they’ll know for certain something the family has always had to take on faith: George is out there, somewhere.
Page 13
The Distinguished Flying Cross News
By Chuck Sweeney
S
ince I was involved in the efforts by the fantastic Balthazor family to honor George, I thought I would follow up the preceding great
news article written by John Wilkens with my perception of the Memorial Service held on March 2, 2012. Everything about the ceremony for George Balthazor was truly inspiring. San Diegans came through in fine style as I would estimate a crowd of about 125 people
including four DFC Society members (Dan King, Herb Leopold, myself and Associate Linda Stull). The local ABC TV station was there with
Bob Lawrence doing the reporting (see: http://www.10news.com/video/30598147/index.html ). John Wilkens (the SD Union Tribune
news reporter) attended as well as a photographer from the paper who took the pictures that appeared in the March 3rd edition. There
were people from all walks of life as well as the official USAF Honor Guard from March ARB and an unofficial Honor Guard of various Veterans organizations including the Combat Vets Association, the Patriot Guard Riders and others. The family was thrilled by the outpouring
of support.
Frank Balthazor did a great job of describing the events over the years after George returned from the war and the feelings of the family as
he seemed to disappear. Frank also profusely thanked Dan King, Herb Leopold, me and the DFC Society for our support of the family in
their quest for closure. The Air Force came through in fine style for one of their own when they did a flyover in two F-16s. As always, I
choked up when Taps was played and again when a Bagpiper who came to honor George played Amazing Grace. After the official part of
the service was complete, people who wanted to speak were invited to come forward. Quite a few did so and for some you could tell this
memorial service provided somewhat of a closure for them. I spoke and lauded the Balthazor family for their persistence and determination to have the public not just recognize George for his service but to prevent this happening to other Georges. I also mentioned that
George was now officially a member of the DFC Society and was on the Honor Roll. This occurred because I had Frank send me a completed application form with a copy of the WD separation papers listing the DFC. After the service I was able to present Frank & Steve with the
new member packet including the certificates and DFCS News Magazines thanks to a team effort by Bev, Mary Ellen and Michael. It was
truly a very uplifting and emotional day coupled with some sadness but George was not left behind due to his wonderful family.
Two months after the memorial service, the family learned that two anonymous donors purchased a plaque that was placed on the Wall at
the Mt Soledad Veterans Memorial in San Diego. The plaque is 16" by 8" and is just beautiful. According to the Memorial Website a plaque
of this size cost $1500. The Balthazor family thinks that “the people of San Diego are just wonderful”.
The Balthazor family fully supported
George.
*book excerpt
The George Balthazor Plaque on the Mt Soledad Memorial Wall
T
he President of the United States takes great
pleasure in presenting the
Distinguished Flying Cross to
Captain Duane F. Cocking for
extraordinary achievement
while participating in aerial flight as a Pilot
of a C7A aircraft at Phuoc Vinh, Republic of
Vietnam on 30 March 1969. While awaiting clearance for take-off, the field came
under a heavy attack with several rounds
impacting very
near Captain
Cocking’s position.
Captain Cocking
made an immediate departure during which he sighted the
firing position which was subsequently
destroyed by Phuoc Vinh’s artillery. The
professional competence, aerial skill, and
devotion to duty displayed by Captain
Cocking reflect great credit upon himself
and the United States Air Force.
Summer 2012 Issue
Page 14
T
he President of the United States
takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to
Airman First Class Harley R. Beck, Jr.,
for outstanding achievement while
participating in aerial flight as a Gunner of a B-26 attack bomber, 34 Bombardment
Wing (L), Fifth Air Force on the night of 17 October
1952. Airman Beck displayed outstanding airmanship and gunnery skill while on an armed reconnaissance over the enemy’s main supply route
between Suan and Sokung in North Korea. An enemy convoy of twenty-five vehicles was sighted and
immediately taken under attack in a series of
bombing
and
firing
passes.
Airman
Beck,
utilizing superior marksmanship, scored several direct
hits on these moving targets. These aggressive and
highly coordinated attacks resulted in the destruction of five supply-laden vehicles thus depriving
the enemy of vital supplies. By his high skill, courage and devotion to duty, Airman Beck has brought
great credit upon himself, his organization, and the
United States Air Force.
*book excerpt
*book excerpt
T
*book excerpt
Page 15
he President of the United
States takes great pleasure in
presenting the Distinguished Flying
Cross to Lieutenant Colonel Harold J.
Birkhofer for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial
flight as Aircraft Commander of an CH-3E helicopter in Southeast Asia on 15 August 1971. On that
date, Colonel Birkhofer led a formation of three
helicopters to place a friendly reconnaissance
team deep inside hostile territory. Despite severe
weather conditions, the constant threat of hostile
fire, and the
limited capabilities of
his aircraft,
Colonel
Birkhofer
successfully
accomplished his mission undetected using precision
navigation and thereby insuring the successful
completion of the mission. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Colonel Birkhofer reflect great credit
upon himself and the United States Air Force.
The Distinguished Flying Cross News
T
he President
of the United
States takes great
pleasure in pre*book excerpt
senting the Distinguished Flying
Cross to RODGER L. McALISTER, First Lieutenant, United
States Army, awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for
extraordinary heroism in action
on 18 December 1966, while
leading a section of aerial rocket artillery helicopters on a
medical evacuation cover mission, in the Republic of Vietnam. The intended pick-up
zone was surrounded by enemy
automatic weapons positions,
making it extremely dangerous
for the medical helicopter to
land. Using his own aircraft as a
target for the hostile fire, Lieutenant McAlister led the medical helicopter into the area.
Boldly flying into the face of the
enemy, he was immediately
taken under fire from three
directions. His action diverted
the enemy's attention, and the
medical helicopter was able to
land and board casualties. In
order to get the heavily loaded
aircraft out of the pick- up zone,
he again flew low over the enemy positions, exposing himself
to
heavy
fire.
Once
again
the
decoy
maneuver
was
successful
and
the medical helicopter was able
to depart the area without sushe President of the United States takes great
taining casualties. He then
braved the hostile fire for a
pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flythird time to engage the enemy
ing Cross to Lt. Marvin C. Colton for extraordinary
with rocket and machine gun
achievement against the enemy on 24 March 1945.
fire, succeeding to destroy two
As lead bombardier of a formation of B-26 type
of the positions. Lieutenant
aircraft Lt. COLTON distinguished himself while participating in
McAlister's courage and detera mission against an important enemy communications center
mination under fire stand in
in Germany. In the face of continuous heavy antiaircraft fire
keeping with the highest tradifrom enemy ground positions and despite severe battle smoke and ground haze in the target area, Lt.
tions of the military service,
COLTON released his bombs on the objective with superior results. The professional skill, bombing tech- and reflect great credit upon
nique and courage in the face of hazardous conditions on this occasion as exhibited by Lt. COLTON were himself, his unit and the United
States Army. Rodger L. McAlmaterial factors in the success of this vital mission.
Summer 2012 Issue Page 16
ister is a member of the Distinguished Flying Cross Society.
T
*book excerpt
T
he President of the United
States takes great pleasure
in presenting the Distinguished
Flying Cross to Major Kristian S.
Thiele for extraordinary
achievement while participating in aerial flight as F-16 Pilot in Wardak
Province, Afghanistan on 8 December 2011.
On that date, Major Thiele responded to an
emergency situation where a five-man
American and Afghan element had been
engaged by heavy, effective small arms fire.
The friendly element was unable to establish
successful communication with any other
ground forces, and Major Thiele was the sole
communication link with the element’s joint
forward observer. He immediately took
command of the tactical situation by directing aircraft sensor scans, acting as a communication relay to the ground forces commander and joint terminal attack controller,
planning for ad-hoc refueling, and deconflicting airborne assets. As the enemy
fire intensified, the ground forces began to
repeatedly request ordnance from any on
station fighters. After receiving a general
bearing and range to the target, Major Thiele
made two identification passes to verify both
the enemy and friendly position. With this
data, he quickly communicated the situation
to the tactical operations center and rapidly
formulated a game plan to utilize a combination of emergency and traditional close air
supply procedures to immediately lay down
suppression fire. Major Thiele executed two
high angle strafe attacks which hit the targets and provided lethal effects. Following
the strafe passes, the friendly element quickly reported all firing had ceased. His immediate and decisive actions combined with his
ability to place accurate fire on the enemy
forces led the ground controller to state,
“Viper 21, you are an angel from heaven! I
am down to my last 15 bullets and one grenade, for myself. You saved our lives today.”
The professional competence, aerial skill,
and devotion to duty displayed by Major
Thiele reflect great credit upon himself and
the United States Air Force.
*book excerpt
Page 19
The Distinguished Flying Cross News
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