Bernard F. Fisher, Honored for Bold Vietnam Rescue, Dies at 87

NYT ^ | 9/2/2014 | PAUL VITELLO

[BuffaloJack]

Thenk you for your service, Bernie.

[wetphoenix]

RIP, Col. Fisher.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Sounds like a good book (or at least a short story) could be written about the rescue.

[cloudmountain]

Thank you for your service, Bernie.

A GENUINE hero!

[22202NOVA]

This man had quite a set!

RIP American hero.

[Da Coyote]

What a man!

Hopefully, they still DO make ‘em like this.

[GOP_Party_Animal]

What branch of service was he in? What type of aircraft did he fly that day?

Short on interesting details...

[bandleader]

What a HERO!GOD Bless Him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ready4Freddy]

Interesting...

"The rescue at A Shau was similar to an event that occurred on August 4, 1944 during World War II. On that date, Captain Richard "Dick" Willsie's P-38 was damaged by flak near Ploieşti, Romania. After both engines failed, Willsie crash-landed but was rescued from capture when Flight Officer Dick Andrews landed his P-38 on the field, squeezed Willsie into the cockpit, and flew back to base.

***By remarkable coincidence, both Willsie and Andrews were also involved in the A Shau rescue. Willsie was the commanding officer of the 602nd Air Commando Squadron to which Myers was assigned, and Andrews flew top cover during the entire rescue.***"

[csvset]

USAF, A-1E Skyraider as per Wikipedia

[Dagnabitt]

I think that a poignant part of the story is how the rescued pilot, Major Myers would call Fisher every year on March 10 to wish him well. After Major Myers died in 1992, his daughter kept up the anniversary tradition for another 22 years.

[gtk]

The Air Force Museum of the United States in Dayton Ohio has this on display:
http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/2014%5C04%5C140424-F-IO108-005.jpg
with the amazing story of Fisher’s successful rescue of Myers.

[centurion316]

The White House just announced the award of the Medal of Honor to Command Sergeant Major Bennie Adkins for actions in this same battle. CSM Adkins was part of a Special Forces team defending this A Shau Valley firebase. He was originally awarded a Distinguished Service Cross, but that has just been upgraded. Adkins and a number of other men were unable to get on the last evacuation helicopter on 10 March and had to E&E in the jungle for two days.

http://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/adkins/?from=hp_spotlight

[pfflier]

USAF. The Plane was an A-1 Skyraider.

[GOP_Party_Animal]

Thank you! I was wondering how he’d land an F4 on such an airfield.

[Gritty]

•Rank and Organization: Major, U.S. Air Force, 1st Air Commandos
•Place and date: Bien Hoa and Pleiku, Vietnam, 10 March 1966
•Date of Issue: 01/19/1967

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. On that date, the special forces camp at A Shau was under attack by 2,000 North Vietnamese Army regulars. Hostile troops had positioned themselves between the airstrip and the camp. Other hostile troops had surrounded the camp and were continuously raking it with automatic weapons fire from the surrounding hills. The tops of the 1,500-foot hills were obscured by an 800 foot ceiling, limiting aircraft maneuverability and forcing pilots to operate within range of hostile gun positions, which often were able to fire down on the attacking aircraft. During the battle, Maj. Fisher observed a fellow airman crash land on the battle-torn airstrip. In the belief that the downed pilot was seriously injured and in imminent danger of capture, Maj. Fisher announced his intention to land on the airstrip to effect a rescue. Although aware of the extreme danger and likely failure of such an attempt, he elected to continue. Directing his own air cover, he landed his aircraft and taxied almost the full length of the runway, which was littered with battle debris and parts of an exploded aircraft. While effecting a successful rescue of the downed pilot, heavy ground fire was observed, with 19 bullets striking his aircraft. In the face of the withering ground fire, he applied power and gained enough speed to lift-off at the overrun of the airstrip. Maj. Fisher's profound concern for his fellow airman, and at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country

[zot]

There is a photo of Fisher’s C-123 on the ground during this rescue. It is the only photo of a Congressional Medal of Honor action while it was happening.