Risner was awarded the Silver Star for a September 15, 1952, action in which his wingmans jet was damaged during fighting with enemy aircraft. The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Air Force Cross to Lieutenant Colonel James Robinson Risner, United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force while a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from 31 October 1965 to 15 December 1965. After two attempts, Risner was forced to discontinue when leaking fuel and hydraulic fluid covered his canopy and threatened to stall his own engine. Risner became an ace in the Korean War and commanded a squadron of F-105 Thunderchiefs in the first missions of Operation Rolling Thunder in 1965. In a brief dogfight Risner shot down one to score his first "kill", on August 5, 1952. The strike force consisted of more than 100 F-105, F-100 and B-57 aircraft, and in the congested airspace, heavy anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) fire seriously disrupted its coordination and radio communications. [4], In addition to a love of sports, Risner's interests were primarily in riding horses and motorcycles.[3]. Related Entries. [16], In August 1964, Lieutenant Colonel Risner took command of the 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron, an F-105D Thunderchief fighter-bomber unit based at Kadena AB, Okinawa, and part of the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing. He was also appointed as a U.S. delegate to the Fortieth Session of the United Nations General Assembly by President Ronald Reagan. Robinson deliberately concealed the injury, which would have grounded him, until able to convince a flight surgeon that the injury had healed. program[21] and raised quarter horses, and later in San Antonio. Risner flew 108 missions in Korea and was credited with the destruction of eight MiG-15s, his final victory occurring January 21, 1953. He directed his aircraft over the Gulf of Tonkin, ejected, and was rescued. [8][10][11][n 3], On the return flight, Risner's wingman, 1st Lt. Joseph Logan, was struck in his fuel tanks by anti-aircraft fire over Antung. [n 5], Risner's squadron led the first Rolling Thunder strike on March 2, bombing an ammunition dump at Xom Biang approximately 10 miles (16km) north of the Demilitarized Zone. Gen. James Robinson "Robbie" Risner was part of that legendary group who served in three wars, built an Air Force, and gave us an enduring example of courage and mission success Today's Airmen know we stand on the shoulders of giants. You wouldnt be here.. Colonel Risner initiated the attack, directing his aircraft into the target in the face of heavy automatic ground fire. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! When forced to make a statement against the war, he did so with mispronounced words and a heavy German accent, bringing further punishment from his captors. Correll, John T. Nine Feet Tall. Air Force Magazine, February 2012, pp. As storm clouds gathered over Southeast Asia in 1964, Risner arrived in the region, as if on cue, to take command of a fighter-bomber squadron in preparation for the larger war nearly everyone saw coming. [32] Risner made no rebuttal at the time, but when interviewed 20 years later, termed it "character assassination", a charge supported by several of McCarthy's liberal peers. 7478. . After Vietnam, Risner was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and returned to the pilots seat and commanded several fighter training programs before his retirement in 1976. (Davis, p. 43), Risner is quoted as identifying the airfield as "Tak Tung Kau". Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, "Detailed Chronological List, Recipients of the Air Force Cross", http://www.homeofheroes.com/members/02_AFC/detail_index_chron.html, http://www.airforce-magazine.com/MagazineArchive/Pages/1983/December%201983/1283valor.aspx, http://aeroweb.brooklyn.cuny.edu/history/aviators/rrisner.htm, http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0112/14/lkl.00.html, "Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale: Vietnam War Hero and Indomitable Spirit at the Hanoi Hilton", http://www.historynet.com/vice-admiral-james-bond-stockdale-vietnam-war-hero-and-indomitable-spirit-at-the-hanoi-hilton.htm, "USAF Weapons School Robbie Risner Award", http://web.archive.org/web/20120420011921/http://www.aggienetwork.com/uploads/class/newsletters/66%20July%2008.pdf, "Nomination of United States Representatives and Alternate Representatives to the 40th Session of the United Nations General Assembly", http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1985/91785a.htm, http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.asp?ID=19, "Eagle Biography: Robinson 'Robbie' Risner", Air University Gathering of Eagles, Dedication of the Risner statue at the Air Force Academy on November 16, 2001, Photograph of Risner statue and its sculptor, Lawrence Ludtke, YouTube (newsreel), "1957 Spirit of St. Louis II Sets Atlantic Record", Articles with dead external links from November 2014, Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War, Central High School (Tulsa, Oklahoma) alumni, Recipients of the Air Force Cross (United States), Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States), United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II, Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (United States). Near Cho Do, Logan bailed out after calling to Risner, "I'll see you at the base tonight." This guy had balls of steel. He was the first living recipient of the medal.[1]. The 30th FS was based on a primitive airstrip without permanent facilities at Aguadulce, on the Gulf of Panama. Creating an account gives you access to all these features. He was promoted to brigadier general in May 1974. About; Blog; Contact Us; . Forced to land on a dry lakebed, he found that he was in Mexico and encountered bandits, but successfully flew his Mustang to Brownsville after the storm had passed. Can you list the top facts and stats about Robbie Risner? Awards: Air Force Cross (2) Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star (2) Distinguished Flying Cross (3) Bronze Star (3 . Morrocco, John, and Manning, Robert (1984). List of aircraft of the Malaysian Armed Forces. [28] He was a POW for seven years, four months, and 27 days. "[2], Risner was born in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, in 1925,[3] but moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1931. He flew a combined 163 combat missions, was shot down twice, and was credited with destroying eight MiG-15s. This project is funded in part by a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan grant award. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993. SURVEY . Subsequent to that said he received his first Air Force Cross in April 1965 for leading air strikes against a strategicbridge in North Vietnam. James Robinson Risner was a man of humble origins, son of an Arkansas sharecropper, educated at secondary school level, not particularly ambitious, a common man save for two things: He could fly the hell out of an airplane; and, under terribly difficult circumstances as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam, he rose to a level of heroic leadership [n 1] During their defense of the bombers, Risner's flight overflew the MiG base at Antung Airfield, China. 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. [18], On March 22, 1965, flying F-105D 624233, Risner was hit by ground fire while leading two flights of F-105s attacking a radar site near Vinh Son. Performing in the role of air coordinator, Colonel Risner arrived over the target area before the main strike force, evaluated the effectiveness of each strike, redirected subsequent strikes, and provided flak suppression against defenses that would hinder delivery aircraft in the performance of their mission. In his words he describes how he survived a torture session in July 1967, handcuffed and in stocks after destroying two pictures of his family to prevent them from being used as propaganda by an East German film crew: To make it, I prayed by the hour. [48] He was also inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in November 1974 in recognition of his military service,[49] and announced as an inductee into the Arkansas Military Veterans Hall of Fame on November 1, 2013.[50]. The use of Bullpups against the bridge had been completely ineffectual, resulting in the scheduling of a second mission the next day with 48 F-105s attacking the bridge without destroying it. [10][12], On September 21 he shot down his fifth MiG, becoming the 20th "jet ace". He worked a series of jobs during his school years, contributing his earnings to the family funds. [3], Risner had a religious upbringing as a member of the 1st Assembly of God Church. [7], Risner arrived in Korea on May 10, 1952, assigned to the 15th Reconnaissance Squadron at Kimpo Air Base. New York: Random House, 1973. Yet all he did, remained in a military framework, based on the core principle that each were fighting men with a code of honor that must be upheld. James Robinson "Robbie" Risner (January 16, 1925 - October 22, 2013) was a general and a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. As they did, the 40 or so men in their cellblock burst into The Star-Spangled Banner. The other six cellblocks also erupted in the national anthem as the three were marched off. [1] By the time Risner entered high school, his father was self-employed, selling used cars. He received an unofficial rebuke from the American embassy for flying an armed fighter into the sovereign territory of a foreign nation, but for diplomatic reasons the flight was officially ignored.[5]. Tactics were revised in which "Hunter-Killer Teams" were created. On 4 April, he again led an attacking force of fighter aircraft on a restrike against the same target. Thompson, Warren E., and McLaren, David R. (2002). Risner's wingman was shot down in the opening pass, and the mission was in danger of collapsing when Risner took charge. Fighting a serious fuel leak and a smoke-filled cockpit in addition to anti-aircraft fire from the ground, he again nursed his crippled aircraft to Danang. The idea was to push the plane to reach the United Nations rescue base of Cho Do. On August 12, 1965, U.S. Air Force and Navy air units received authorization to attack surface-to-air missile sites supplied to the North Vietnamese by the Soviet Union. Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions: U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. Born in Mammoth Springs, Arkansas on Jan. 16, 1925 and raised in a religious family, Robinson Risner made his first critical life choice between attending Bible College or joining the Army Air Forces during World War II. His second Air Force Cross wasnt pinned to his chest until after he returned from the prison camp when it was awarded for his leadership as a POW. Risner was recalled to active duty in February 1951 while assigned to the 185th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the OKANG at Will Rogers Field in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He subsequently received training in the F-80 Shooting Star at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. He was a close friend of the billionaire businessman and onetime presidential candidate H. Ross Perot, who commissioned a statue of Robinson Risner, which was installed at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, on November 16, 2001. Other awards include the Bronze Star with V device and Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with seven Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Command Medal, and Purple Heart with three Oak Leaf Clusters. The Passing of the Night. The day after his arrival, he returned to Korea when he learned that MiGs were operational. His wingman Capt. In August 1964, Lieutenant Colonel Risner took command of the 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron, an F-105D Thunderchief fighter-bomber unit based at Kadena AB, Okinawa, as part of the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing. Risner noted to a biographer that his tour under these conditions amounted to as much flying as he desired but a distinct lack of discipline on the ground. Following the war, Risner raised quarter horses in Texas and became executive director of the Texans War Against Drugs. He became an ace by shooting down eight enemy MiG fighters. The President of the United States, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Air Force Cross to James Robinson Risner, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force while a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from 31 October to 15 December 1965. [8], His first two months of combat saw little contact with MiGs, and although a flight leader, he took a three-day leave to Japan in early August. View military histories of over 2 million, If you are a veteran, reconnect with people. SHOULD READ : [21][22][23][n 7], On April 3 and 4, 1965, Risner led two large missions against the Thanh Ha Bridge in North Vietnam. Risner is a double recipient of the Air Force Cross, the second highest military decoration for valor that can be awarded to a member of the United States Air Force. [10][13][14], Risner was commissioned into the Regular Air Force and assigned to the 50th Fighter-Bomber Wing at Clovis Air Force Base, New Mexico, in March 1953, where he became operations officer of the 81st Fighter Bomber Squadron. The President of the United States, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to Robinson Risner, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force on 3 and 4 April 1965. Risner flew his aircraft behind his comrades crippled jet, nudging it forward with the nose of his plane in an attempt to help him to friendly territory. [3] In addition to a love of sports, Risner's interests were primarily in riding horses and motorcycles.[1]. Early in the air war over North Vietnam, Robinson Risner led the first flight of Operation Rolling Thunder, a high-intensity aerial bombing of North Vietnam. [25] 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. Near Cho Do, Lt. Logan bailed out, after radioing to Risner, "I'll see you at the base tonight." One of 'em is 9 feet tall and headed west in full afterburner. The 67th TFS ended its first duty at Korat on April 26 but returned from Okinawa on August 16 for a second tour of combat duty over North Vietnam. [2], The Risner Award, created September 24, 1976, was donated by H. Ross Perot as a tribute to Risner and all Vietnam era Prisoners of War, and is administered by the Tactical Air Command (now by Air Combat Command). As his jailers dragged him to another period of solitary confinement, he could hear his fellow prisoners break into The Star-Spangled Banner. I felt like I was nine feet tall and could go bear hunting with a switch, Risner said later. The use of Bullpups against the bridge had been completely ineffectual, resulting in the scheduling of a second mission the next day with 48 F-105s attacking the bridge without destroying it. In his book, Risner attributes faith in God and prayer as being instrumental to his surviving the Hanoi prison experience. In civilian life, Risner tried a succession of jobs, training as an auto mechanic, operating a gas station, and managing a service garage. Gender. [4], Risner had a religious upbringing as a member of the 1st Assembly of God Church. 72201. Only one Bullpup could be guided at a time, and on his second pass, Risner's aircraft took a hit just as the missile struck the bridge. James Robinson Risner Jr. was the oldest son of Brigadier General James Robinson Robbie Risner, a fighter pilot, veteran of three wars, and a POW held in Hanoi, North Vietnam for 7 1/2 years. He was promoted to the grade of Brigadier General in May 1974. James Robinson Risner Nickname(s) Robbie Born (1925-01-16)January 16, 1925 Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, U.S. Died October 22, 2013(2013-10-22)(aged 88) Bridgewater, Virginia, U.S. They remained married until the end of his life, with the two younger of his four surviving sons choosing to live with him and Risner adopting her three youngest children. [12] Risner shut down his own engine in an attempt to save fuel, but eventually his engine flamed out and he glided to a deadstick landing at Kimpo. [22], On the morning of September 16, 1965, on an Iron Hand mission, Risner flew F-105D 61-0217 as the "hunter" element of a Hunter-Killer Team searching for a SAM site in the vicinity of Tuong Loc, 80 miles south of Hanoi and 10 miles northeast of the Thanh Hoa Bridge. He was extensively tortured for information but successfully resisted their demands and established a standard of honorable conduct and resistance which was followed by hundreds of Americans after him. Person. [29], Publication of Risner's book led to a flap with American author and Vietnam war critic Mary McCarthy in 1974. He was the first living recipient of the . [19] After the last strike had been delivered, Risner and the two surviving members of his flight remained in the area, directing the search and rescue mission for Baird until their fuel ran low. After the war, he joined the Oklahoma Air National Guard, which was federalized during the Korean War, during which Risner flew 108 missions in F-86 Sabrejets. The one time she was way off was about the prisoner of war in North Vietnam, Robinson Risner. He was forced to eject when the aircraft, on fire, pitched up out of control. Later on, as the POW organization grew, and prisoners were taken to other prisons throughout the country, Risners guidance would expand and continue to spread. [6] Risner was often assigned to fly F-86E-10, AF serial no. second award of the air force cross " The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Air Force Cross to James Robinson Risner, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force while a Prisoner of . On October 19, 2012, ground was broken at the Air Force Academy for its new Center for Character and Leadership Development. B/G Robinson Risner was a general officer and professional fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. Ungraded . Risner flew 108 missions in Korea and was credited with the destruction of eight MiG-15s, his final victory occurring January 21, 1953. He would participate in reunions of airmen, and at one in the 1990s he met a Russian MiG pilot who had served in Korea. Jet fuel and hydraulic fluid spewed out from the damaged Sabre onto Risner's canopy, obscuring his vision, and turbulence kept separating the two jets. Shot down again on September 16, 1965, he was captured and held as a. On these dates Colonel Risner led two successive operations against vitally important and heavily defended targets. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. [38], General Risner received the following awards and decorations:[15][39]. His aerial skill and heroic actions set an example for the others to follow. Colonel Risner's actions not only deprived the communist force of its vital supply route and much needed equipment but further served to emphasize the high degree of U.S. determination in Southeast Asia. Time magazine featured him on the cover of its April 23, 1965, issue, which highlighted a dozen Americans serving in Vietnam. ", After several days of travel on foot and by truck, Risner was imprisoned in Hoa Lo Prison, known as the Hanoi Hilton to American POWs. However, after two weeks he was moved to Cu Loc Prison, known as "The Zoo", where he was confronted during interrogations with his Time Magazine cover and told that his capture had been highly coveted by the North Vietnamese. Honor or memorial gifts are an everlasting way to pay tribute to someone who has touched your life. Baird, W. David, and Goble, Danney (1994). Local man to be inducted into the Arkansas Military H.O.F. The force had clear conditions but encountered a severe glare in the target area that made the bridge difficult to acquire for attacks with the Bullpups. Risner flew 108 missions in Korea and was credited with the destruction of eight MiG-15s, his final victory occurring January 21, 1953. With (Captain James) Stockdale we had wisdom. The retired brigadier general was 88-years-old. Portrait of General James Robinson Risner. On Feb. 12, 1973, he was among the first group of prisoners to be released from North Vietnam. Online at http://articles.latimes.com/2013/oct/30/local/la-me-robinson-risner-20131031 (accessed December 16, 2017). When he passed out from pain, the ropes were briefly loosened until the ordeal could start yet again. 2023 Encyclopedia of Arkansas. The flight of four F-86 Sabres launched and encountered 14 MiG-15s. The Risner Award is a six and one-half foot trophy consisting of a sculpture of Risner in flight suit and helmet on a marble base, weighing approximately four tons. [8][9] Scoring numerous hits on the MiG, shooting off its canopy, and setting it on fire, Risner chased it between hangars of the Communist airbase, where he shot it down into parked fighters. 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. "We were lucky to have Risner. He flew F-86s with the 50th Wing to activate Hahn Air Base, West Germany, where he became commander of the 81st FBS in November 1954. In June 1975, Risner was divorced from his wife Kathleen after 29 years of marriage. James Robinson Risner's F-86; While a guest of the communists, he suffered. 51-2824, nicknamed Ohio Mike and bearing a large cartoon rendition of Bugs Bunny as nose art, in which he achieved most of his aerial victories. (Davis, p. 46), Another flight member, 1st Lt. Willard P. Dunbar, reported that the MiG pilot was a red-headed Russian who shook his fist at Risner before crashing. The trophy is permanently displayed at the United States Air Force Academy, with each winner's name inscribed. As a leader of the POWs, Risner set up committees, assigned tasks and helped set up communication systems through tapping, scraping walls and even coughing. [52], Risner was inducted into the Arkansas Aviation Hall of Fame by the Arkansas Aviation Historical Society in 2015.[53]. [10] Online at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/28/us/robinson-risner-ace-fighter-pilot-dies-at-88.html?mcubz=3 (accessed December 16, 2017). [9][n 2] Scoring numerous hits on the MiG, shooting off its canopy, and setting it on fire, Risner chased it between hangars of the Communist airbase, where he shot it down into parked fighters. LBJ Cup . While the Korean War may have been Risners favorite period, it was by no means the most consequential in the lives of others. James Robinson "Robbie" Risner was born in 1925 in Arkansas, to a sharecropping family struggling to make ends meet. 512824, nicknamed Ohio Mike and bearing a large cartoon rendition of Bugs Bunny as nose art, in which he achieved most of his aerial victories. James Robinson Risner 'Robbie' Engagements: Korean War (1950 - 1953) Vietnam War (1960 - 1973) Biography: James Robinson "Robbie" Risner (January 16, 1925 - October 22, 2013) was a general officer and professional fighter pilot in the United States Air Force.. Risner was a double recipient of the Air Force Cross, the second highest military decoration for valor that can be awarded to . A miniature replica, also donated by Perot, is presented to each year's recipient as a personal memento. Sometimes in history, a man emerges whom no one saw coming, one who rises to the awful challenge of crisis leadership when others are faltering and provides exactly the right strength of character, calming influence, and credible guidance out of the morass. An identical casting, measuring four feet and weighing 300 pounds, was installed in the foyer of the USAF Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base in October 1984. In the course of the operation, Colonel Risner's unit encountered the first MIG force committed in aerial combat against the U.S. Heavy ground fire struck Risner's F-105 in its air intakes when he popped up over a hill to make his attack. [24] He was on his 55th combat mission at the time. Five USAF aircraft, including three of Risner's F-105s, were shot down on the Xom Biang strike, but all of the 67th TFS pilots including Baird were rescued. During their defense of the bombers, Risner's flight overflew the MiG base at Antung Airfield, China. Howes, Craig. His mother and brother died while he was still a P.O.W. In an effort to help him reach Kimpo, Risner attempted to push Logan's aircraft by having him shut down his engine and inserting the nose of his own jet into the tailpipe of Logan's, an unprecedented and untried maneuver. He somehow conveyed to his fellow POWs that it was the right thing to do in order to survive with dignity and honor. Rate and review titles you borrow and share your opinions on them. Flying came easily to the gifted trainee, which led to a coveted assignment flying fighters after graduation. In July 1973 assigned to the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, where he became combat ready in the F-4 Phantom II. The extremely harsh treatment inflicted upon him was to become a way of life for him in the subsequent years. Risner was later transferred to Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico in February 1974 to command the 832d Air Division, in which he flew the F-111 Aardvark fighter-bomber. On Feb. 12, 1973, he was among the first group of prisoners to be released from North Vietnam. During the Korean War, Risner was also awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions on August 5, 1952, receiving an Oak Leaf Cluster to that award for exploits on September 5, 1952, and a second Oak Leaf Cluster for heroism on January 21, 1953. Chawkins, Steve. Risner in 1973 after being released as a POW by the North Vietnamese, Risner's call sign this date was "John Red Lead". He radioed Joe to shut down his engine. Has been corrected. He next served on the joint staff of Commander-in-Chief, Pacific (CINCPAC) in Hawaii. Employed at low altitudes, the "hunters" located the missiles and attacked their radar control vans with canisters of napalm, both to knock out the SAM's missile guidance and to mark the target for the "killers", which followed up the initial attack using 750-pound bombs to destroy the site. It was no accident that the statue was nine-feet tall. Risner enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces as an aviation cadet in April 1943 and attended flight training at Williams Field, Arizona, where he was awarded his pilot wings and a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in May 1944. At his death, Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark A. Welsh III observed: "Brig. Risner is one of only four airmen with multiple awards of the Air Force Cross, a combat decoration second only to the Medal of Honor. The nine-foot bronze statue of Robinson Risner, sculpted by Lawrence M. Ludtke and mounted on a five-foot pedestal of black granite, commemorates Risner and other POWs who were punished for holding religious services in their room at the Hanoi Hilton on February 7, 1971, in defiance of North Vietnamese authorities. Although Logan came down close to shore and was a strong swimmer, he became entangled in his parachute shrouds and drowned. Risner was flying F-105D 62-4233 on March 22, 1965. [18][n 4] On February 18, 1965, as part of an escalation in air attacks directed by President Lyndon B. Johnson that resulted in the commencement of Operation Rolling Thunder, the 67th TFS began a tour of temporary duty at Korat RTAFB, Thailand, under the control of the 2d Air Division. It was never threatening, always gentle and optimistic, like a loving father giving guidance to his son. (1925 - 2013) (RIP) James Rob. Race & Ethnicity. Gen. James Robinson "Robbie" Risner was part of that legendary . Voices of the Vietnam POWs: Witnesses to Their Fight. During the Vietnam War, Risner was a double recipient of the Air Force Cross, the second highest military decoration for valor that can be awarded to a member of the United States Air Force, awarded the first for valor in aerial combat and the second for gallantry as a prisoner of war of the North Vietnamese for more than seven years. An ace by Shooting down eight enemy MiG fighters `` Tak Tung Kau '' McCarthy in.... 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U.S. prisoners of war in North Vietnam he could hear his fellow POWs it. Intakes when he passed out from pain, the 40 or so men in their cellblock into! Questions: U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam war 7 ], Risner said later his! His attack was by no means the most consequential in the subsequent years professional fighter pilot the. Brief dogfight Risner shot down in the United Nations rescue base of Do! And Leadership Development AI, let 's keep it short by simply answering these questions! And review titles you borrow and share your opinions on them personal memento recipient of the United States Force! Medal. [ 1 ] by the time brief dogfight Risner shot down on! Of the medal. [ 1 ] by the time Risner entered high,..., he was promoted to the 15th Reconnaissance Squadron at Kimpo Air base from North Vietnam he! Become a way of life for him in the course of the Texans war against Drugs most in... On them to reach the United States Air Force easily to the funds! 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His surviving the Hanoi prison experience p. 43 ), Risner had a religious as... School years, four months, and Manning, Robert ( 1984 ) October 19, 2012 ground. Creating an account gives you access to all these features September 16, 1965 he! Worked a series of jobs during his school years, four months, and 27....