{"product_id":"united-states-a-signed-photograph-of-congressional-medal-of-honor-recipient-and-prisoner-of-war-major-bud-day-misty-super-facs-f-100-squadron-w8672","title":"United States. A Signed Photograph of Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient and Prisoner of War, Major \"Bud\" Day, Misty Super FAC's F-100 Squadron","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn color, gloss finish, signed \"Col. Bud Day\" in silver-colored ink at the upper right, measuring 123 mm (w) x 177 mm (h), extremely fine. Accompanied by an 88 mm (w) x 51 mm (h) Congressional Medal of Honor Society business card, signed \"Col. Bud Day\" in black ink and inscribed \"GEORGE E. DAY \/ Colonel, USAF, Retired\".\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFootnote: George Everett \"Bud\" Day was born on February 24, 1925 in Sioux City, Woodbury County, Iowa and made his home in Sioux City. He was raised in western Iowa and dropped out of school, in order to join the United States Marine Corps in 1942. He served thirty months in the South Pacific during the Second World War as an enlisted member with the USMC. After the conflict, he graduated from Morningside College and the University of South Dakota Law School, admitted to the Iowa Bar, simultaneously serving in the Iowa Army National Guard and then in the Air Force Reserve. He was recalled for the Korean War, serving in the Air Force and was nearing retirement, when he volunteered for Vietnam duty in April of 1967, again in the Air Force. He was serving in the rank of Major with Misty Super FAC's F-100 Squadron, United States Air Force during the Vietnam War, when his F-100 was shot down on August 26, 1967. He was captured and tortured, escaped, was re-captured and would go on to serve seven years in captivity as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam, repeatedly beaten and tortured, and finally repatriated in 1973. His cell mates included Admiral James Stockdale and future Arizona Senator John McCain, and while held, he never gave his captors truthful information. Upon returning home, Day returned to flight status, served as Deputy Commander at Eglin AFB, Florida. For his brave actions leading up to and including his imprisonment, he would earn a Congressional Medal of Honor by General Orders, GB-180, March 22, 1976, and received his award from President Gerald R. Ford. His citation states: \"The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Colonel [then Major] George Everett \"Bud\" Day (AFSN: 0-49555), United States Air Force, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty a Pilot of Misty Super FAC's F-100 Squadron, held as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam. On 26 August 1967, Colonel Day was forced to eject from his aircraft over North Vietnam when it was hit by ground fire. His right arm was broken in three places, and his left knee was badly sprained. He was immediately captured by hostile forces and taken to a prison camp where he was interrogated and severely tortured. After causing the guards to relax their vigilance, Colonel Day escaped into the jungle and began the trek toward South Vietnam. Despite injuries inflicted by fragments of a bomb or rocket, he continued southward surviving only on a few berries and uncooked frogs. He successfully evaded enemy patrols and reached the Ben Hai River, where he encountered U.S. artillery barrages. With the aid of a bamboo log float, Colonel Day swam across the river and entered the demilitarized zone. Due to delirium, he lost his sense of direction and wandered aimlessly for several days. After several unsuccessful attempts to signal U.S. aircraft, he was ambushed and recaptured by the Viet Cong, sustaining gunshot wounds to his left hand and thigh. He was returned to the prison from which he had escaped and later was moved to Hanoi after giving his captors false information to questions put before him. Physically, Colonel Day was totally debilitated and unable to perform even the simplest task for himself. Despite his many injuries, he continued to offer maximum resistance. His personal bravery in the face of deadly enemy pressure was significant in saving the lives of fellow aviators who were still flying against the enemy. Colonel Day's conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Armed Forces.\" Day is the only man to earn both the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Air Force Cross. In addition, he is the recipient of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star with three Combat \"V\" devices, four Purple Hearts, and the Prisoner of War Medal. He is widely considered the most decorated Airman in history, as he is a recipient of virtually every other available combat decoration. His autobiography is titled \"Return With Honor\" and he later expanded upon that book in a second autobiography titled \"Duty, Honor, Country.\" Colonel \"Bud\" Day retired in 1977 with about 8,000 hours of flight time to his credit. He was admitted to the Florida Bar and kept up a busy practice, noted for winning a case against the Federal Government, which established the right of military retirees to continue receiving health care after age 65. Active in Republican politics, he supported Arizona Senator John McCain for President in 2000 and in 2008, and in 2004 was part of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, an anti-John Kerry group. Day died on July 27, 2013 in Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa County, Florida, at the age of 88 and is buried in Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Escambia County, Florida, Plot: Section 51, Grave 30. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Brigadier General on June 8, 2018. In the years after his death, the Survival School at Fairchild AFB, Washington, the Sioux City Airport, an officers' barracks at Goodfellow AFB, Texas, and a section of highway near Eglin AFB carry his name. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"eMedals","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49931056152853,"sku":"W8672","price":95.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0713\/9105\/2053\/files\/qSuoiZ9D1zjRlw3IfPHQEsO5RXp26EDImrazGHsZ.jpg?v=1780064782","url":"https:\/\/www.emedals.com\/products\/united-states-a-signed-photograph-of-congressional-medal-of-honor-recipient-and-prisoner-of-war-major-bud-day-misty-super-facs-f-100-squadron-w8672","provider":"eMedals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}